Clashes in Delhi's Jahangirpuri during Hanuman Jayanti procession
Some people, including a couple of policemen, were injured in stone-pelting.
FollowClashes erupted on Saturday evening in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area between members of two communities during a 'Shobha Yatra' taken out on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
Some people, including a couple of policemen, were injured in clashes. They have been rushed to a nearby hospital.
A number of vehicles were torched, Delhi Police sources said.
According to media reports, a war of words between members of two communities during the procession escalated into clashes and stone-pelting. As the violence escalated, additional police reinforcements were rushed in.
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said that the situation was under control at the moment. He said that additional forces have been deployed where the incident took place. Besides this, special deployment has been done in sensitive areas across the national capital.Â
The police commissioner also assured strict action against the accused. Senior officers have been asked to remain in the field and closely supervise the law and order situation and undertake patrolling, the commissioner further said.
Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain peace but put the onus on the central government to maintain peace.
"I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. The central government has the responsibility to maintain peace in the national capital," he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Delhi Police Commissioner and Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) and directed them to take necessary action.
The clashes in the national capital come even as there is a controversy raging over multiple attacks on Ram Navami processions in some states. Earlier this evening, the Opposition released a joint statement, condemning the recent outburst of communal violence witnessed across the country.
Claiming that there seemed to be a sinister pattern in the areas where the incidents of violence have taken place, the Opposition appeal -- signed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, among others -- expressed shock at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the matter. They said that the Prime Minister's silence was an 'eloquent testimony to the fact that such armed mobs enjoy the luxury of official patronage'.
The BJP has rubbished the Opposition's charge. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, "Today all opposition parties, including Congress, have given a joint appeal. But this appeal is as fake as the intentions of Congress and the rest of the opposition. Today, people are asking you, why have the main accused of Karauli violence not been arrested even after 14 days?"
"Congress is in power in Rajasthan, but no action has been taken, whereas, in Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken strict action against the accused. It is very sad that even though you are in the opposition, still do the work of inciting fire," Bhatia told the Opposition parties.
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