CAA protests:Policeman among 4 killed in Delhi violence
NEW DELHI : A civilian was brought dead to GTB Hospital following clashes that broke out between pro- and anti-CAA groups in North East Delhi on Monday. The number of deaths reported in the violence has now shot up to three after a police constable died and another civilian succumbed to his injuries.
A deputy commissioner of police injured in the clash was hospitalised. A petrol pump was also set ablaze in North-East Delhi’s Bhajanpura area. A total of eight CRPF companies have been deployed in North-East Delhi area, including two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and one company of women security personnel.
Protesters earlier torched at least two houses and a fire tender in Jaffrabad and Maujpur, where clashes occurred for the second consecutive day, and also hurled stones at each other. Violence was also reported from the Chandbagh area in Jaffrabad. Delhi Police said that Section 144 has been imposed at 10 locations in the North-east district.
The violence comes hours ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to the National Capital. A senior police officer said deceased constable, identified as Ratan Lal, was attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gokulpuri.
“Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Metro Trains will not be halting at these stations,” the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet. Entry and exit gates were also closed at Jaffrabad metro station for over 24 hours.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the news of violence as “very distressing”. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said he has instructed the Delhi Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi and the situation is being closely monitored.
Clashes broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad after a large number of people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) blocked a road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital.
Protesters for and against the controversial citizenship law threw stones, set vehicles and shops ablaze and transformed parts of the national capital into a war zone, forcing the deployment of paramilitary forces and the banning of large gatherings in affected areas.
In one video a man in a red shirt can be seen running at an unarmed Delhi Police officer in Jaffrabad, where over 1,000 women began a peaceful protest on Saturday night, waving what appears to be a gun. Other videos show people from both groups breaking off chunks from the concrete divider along the road to throw at each other. In at least one of these videos shouts of “Jai Shri Ram” can be heard.
Large gatherings have been banned in northeast Delhi under Section 144. They have also been imposed outside Delhi Police Headquarters after calls for protest marches by the JNU Students Union against the “Sanghi police’s brutal suppression of peaceful protests and complicity with violence unleashed… in northeast Delhi”.
US President Donald Trump landed in Delhi shortly before 7.30 pm. On his first to India, Mr Trump is expected to raise the issue of religious freedom with PM Modi.
Earlier today, addressing a massive crowd at Ahmedabad’s newly-built Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cricket Stadium, he described India as ‘a nation where people from all faiths – Hindus, Muslims… worship side by side”.
Sunday’s violence broke out after local BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who has a history of making communal and incendiary comments, held a pro-CAA rally in Maujpur. He gave an “ultimatum” to Delhi police. Sunday also witnessed violence in UP’s Aligarh, where police and anti-CAA protesters clashed. A portion of a shop was set on fire, at least two police vehicles were vandalised and police officers being injured.Protest-against-CAA-in-Seelampur-–-Jaffrabad-Area-Turned-Into-Violence
