Jahangirpuri violence highlights: 23 including two juveniles arrested

It was terrifying as mobs brandishing weapons clashed, hurled stones and fired shots, said residents of Jahangirpuri's C-block as they recalled the violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession, which left nine people, mostly policemen, injured and many vehicles damaged. Full report

One more accused arrested in the Jahangirpuri violence arrested, DCP North West said. The accused Salim alias Chikna is found to be previously involved in a robbery and attempt to murder case. So far, 21 accused persons have been arrested and 2 juveniles have been apprehended. 

“Adequate number of police officials are present at the location. So far, 20 accused are arrested and 2 juveniles are apprehended. Delhi Police is on the top level of alertness. Our priority is to curtail rumours,” Deependra Pathak, Special CP, Law & Order tells ANI.

The Delhi Police on Sunday deployed drone surveillance for patrolling in two south Delhi neighbourhoods that have a history of friction amid investigation into the clashes in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri where violence ensured between two communities on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti a day ago. Full report

Delhi Congress President Chaudhary Anil Kumar on Sunday alleged that clash in Jahangirpuri was the result of intelligence failure, as the security agencies failed to foresee the potential of the procession to flare tempers. Addressing a press conference, Kumar said that it was very unfortunate that even before the scars of the North East Delhi riots in 2020 could heal communal clashes in Jahangirpuri “besmirched Delhi's name”.

According to the police, flag marches were taken out to eliminate anti-social elements in the area, while WhatsApp groups have been formed to eliminate any kind of rumour-mongering. Reserve staff of police arranged to cater to any contingency.

Ansar is believed to be the ‘mastermind’ while Aslam opened fire with his pistol during the melee. According to the police, Ansar was previously arrested in two cases of assault. Full story

During hearing in the Rohini court, Delhi Police alleged the main accused Ansar and Aslam got to know about the ‘Shobha Yatra’ on April 15 and then hatched the conspiracy, ANI reported. “We have to go through the CCTV footage and identify others involved in this case,” the Delhi Police told court. 

Two accused Ansar and Aslam sent to 1-day police custody by Rohini court. The remaining 12 accused have been sent to judicial custody. 

"20 accused have been arrested and two juveniles have also been apprehended in connection with the Jahangirpuri violence. 3 firearms and 5 swords have been recovered from the possession of the accused persons. Further investigation underway", DCP North-West Usha Rangnani tells ANI

Delhi Police beefs up security across the capital, carries out preventive patrolling in areas including Uttam Nagar.

All 14 accused arrested in connection with the Jahangirpuri violence have been produced in court, news agency ANI reported.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch along with the district police will jointly probe the Jahangirpuri violence, Ravindra Yadav, Special CP, Crime Branch said.

The accused in Jahangirpuri violence are being taken to Rohini court by the Delhi Police, reported ANI. 

Heavy security deployment across Jahangirpuri a day after violence erupted during Hanuman Jayanti procession. 

Delhi Police is now using drones to patrol areas in the national capital in wake of the Hanuman Jayanti violence in Jahangirpuri. Now drones are being used to patrol Jamia Nagar and Jasola. Full story 

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanungo tweets,"The NCPCR has taken up the case of children being used in the Delhi violence and necessary action is being taken." Full report

Assistant Sub-Inspector Arun Kumar narrated the sequence of events in the Jahangirpuri violence. “People started running, leaving their vehicles behind. I was trying to remove everyone from violence-hit area, I was saving people when I was hit with stones.”

The Delhi Police said Ansar, one of the conspirators of Jahangirpuri violence, was found to be previously involved in two cases of assault and was arrested repeatedly under preventive sections and booked five times under Gambling Act & Arms Act

Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in violence-hit Jahangirpuri of northwest Delhi on Sunday, ANI reported. "After Delhi's sensitive incident, a flag march is being conducted by police with the goal to create an atmosphere of faith and security for the public. I appeal to the public to maintain peace and not pay heed to rumours," said Love Kumar, Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order).

The Delhi Police said Ansar, the accused named in FIR has been arrested. “Identification of perpetrators going on & police is investigating. We'll be looking into CCTV footage & human intelligence inputs. Stringent action will be taken against those involved in rioting,” Deependra Pathak, Special CP, Law and Order, told ANI.  “People are requested to inform police if suspicious activities take place in their area or any group indulge in argument. We've arrested 14 people, 7 cases were filed & weapons were recovered,” he added. Read full report

The Congress alleged a lack of empathy among those in power and urged people in Delhi to take it upon themselves to stay united and alert after violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the city's Jahangirpuri area. In a tweet in Hindi, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Delhi be alert..Delhi be safe…Delhi stay united. Violence, riots and frenzy will not make religion 'safe', neither will anyone be strong, yes, our India will definitely become weak," Surjewala said.

Delhi Police Sub-Inspector Medha Lal, who sustained bullet injuries during violence at Jahangirpuri said on Sunday that bullets were fired from the C-Block side of the area during the violence.

"Yesterday, a religious procession was taken out. When they reached a mosque, an argument started between two groups. Stone pelting followed but both groups were separated. Not much happened initially. The ones taking out the procession were taken to the G-block side and the ones around the mosque to the C-block side. Stone pelting started from the C-block side and bullets were fired from there too. Later, people came to the C block side with swords. I also caught a bullet and went to the hospital on PCR," said Lal to ANI.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on Saturday condemned the incident of violence and stone-pelting in Jahangirpuri as unfortunate and said the miscreants will not be spared.

Baijal spoke with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

Stones were pelted by some people during Hanuman Jayanti procession in Bhagwanpur police station area in Uttarakhand last evening, cops told ANI.

“After being informed, the police reached the spot and took the situation under control. The arrest of criminals is on after registering an FIR in the case,” Yogendra Singh, SSP, Haridwar, Uttarakhand was quoted as saying by ANI.

“Incidents had happened in Delhi and other areas. There's complete alertness in Bihar, investigation takes place properly in the state. The situation in the state is pretty well as of now,” says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

"Drones and facial recognition software are being used to identify those involved in creating the ruckus. All mobile footage and CCTV cameras installed in and around the vicinity are being scanned to identify the culprits and trace them," police officials told ANI.

Taking an indirect jibe at the BJP-led central government, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the atmosphere of the country is being ‘deliberately spoiled to gain political advantage’ in elections. “Such incidents never happened before on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti, these festivals were celebrated peacefully,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

In Karnataka, a stone-pelting incident reportedly took place at Old Hubli Police Station. “Four policemen, including one inspector, were injured,” ANI reported quoting police officials. Section 144 has been imposed in the entire city. “40 people have been arrested and six cases have been registered. The investigation is underway,” Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Labhu Ram added.

The Andhra Pradesh police have taken 20 people into custody on Sunday for interrogation after a clash broke out on Saturday in the Kurnool district, ANI reported quoting officials.

The clash reportedly resulted in stone pelting between members of two communities during a religious procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti in Alur town of Kurnool. 15 people sustained minor injuries. Police were deployed at the incident spot soon, and the situation was brought under control.

"Procession was underway peacefully... when it reached near C-Block mosque a man with four to five others started arguing with those taking part in the procession. Later stone pelting started from both sides," Rajeev Ranjan, a Delhi Police officer deployed in the Jahangirpuri police station, said in the FIR while narrating the incident.

"Police engaged in security for the religious procession separated the two groups but after some time clashes erupted between the two sides. On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, there was an attempt to create communal tension by stone-pelting," he added.

Police have invoked multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act against the accused, including attempt to murder and rioting. One of the accused - who opened fire with a pistol - is among those arrested and has been identifid as Mohammed Aslam, 21. The weapon used has been recovered from his possession, the police said.

The MP for northwest Delhi, BJP's Hans Raj Hans, visited violence-hit areas early Sunday morning. "I couldn't sleep; wanted to go and check the situation myself. Union Home Minister is also awake, keeping every minute's track," he was quoted by ANI.

“During Aman committee meeting, all the members were asked to appeal the public in their areas to maintain peace, harmony and tranquility. Further they were assured of professional and fair investigation and due legal action on the part of police,” DCP North-West Usha Rangnani was quoted as saying by ANI.

Rapid Action Force and Police Forces have been deployed at violence-hit Jahangirpuri to tighten the security, news agency ANI reported. 14 persons have been arrested so far, in connection with a clash between two groups during a religious procession yesterday.

The police in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar went on a high alert and carried out intensive patrolling in the wake of the communal clashes in the northwestern part of Delhi Saturday evening, officials said.

Patrolling and foot marches were conducted in all three police zones - Noida, Central Noida and Greater Noida - by the police force officials on instructions of Commissioner Alok Singh, they said. Read more

Delhi BJP MP Gautam Gambhir condemned the violence and said it is against the culture of Delhi. "The stone pelting on the procession is very sad. It is against the thinking and the culture of Delhi. I appeal to all the people to maintain peace and the culprits should be punished severely," the MP said. Read more

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people to maintain peace. "The country cannot progress without peace, all people have to maintain peace, law and order. If needed, there is an agency, there is the police, whose responsibility is there. It is the responsibility of the central government to create peace and order in Delhi," he said.

The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday issued a state-wide alert and UP’s additional director general of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said senior officials in the field have been asked to keep a close watch on sensitive areas of their respective districts.

Delhi Police said that one of the accused who opened fire has also been arrested. The pistol used in the commission of the crime has been recovered from his possession.