Northeast Delhi have been on edge since Sunday, February 23, after violence broke out in various parts. The death toll from the brutal riots has reached 34, and over 200 people have been injured.
So far, 106 people have been arrested, and 18 FIRs registered in connection with the violence, the Delhi Police said.
According to Delhi Police sources, WhatsApp groups were used to organise goons from Uttar Pradesh, reported NDTV. The police added that over 50 phones have been seized from the accused.
Late on Wednesday, cases of arson and unrest were reported from Bhajanpura, Maujpur, and Karawal Nagar in Northeast Delhi. Fire Department Director Atul Garg said that they received 19 calls from 12 am till 8 am on Thursday. At present, hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel are patrolling the streets of the affected areas.
Earlier on Thursday, Delhi Police’s Special Commissioner (Law and Order) SN Shrivastava said that the situation was returning to normal.
‘We are registering cases and proceeding with legal action, soon we will be making arrests. I hope all these things will contribute to normalcy,’ he said.
Sonia Gandhi-Led Congress Delegation Meets President
On Thursday, a Congress delegation led by party chief Sonia Gandhi along with former PM Manmohan Singh met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a memorandum on the violence. The delegation, including Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, and senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, and Randeep Surjewala, sought normalcy and peace in violence-hit areas of Delhi.
Addressing a media afterwards, Singh said, ‘What has happened (in Delhi) is a matter of national shame, it is a total failure of the central government.’
Congress delegation led by Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi & Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh meet with the Honourable President of India, to present a memorandum on the Delhi violence. pic.twitter.com/jAzyh0fEvy
â Congress (@INCIndia) February 27, 2020
Sonia Gandhi reiterated the party’s demand for Union Minister Amit Shah’s resignation and said that the Centre and AAP government remained ‘mute spectators’.
‘Instead of taking active steps to diffuse the situation, the central government and the newly-elected Delhi government, have remained mute spectators as completely mindless rage, designed violence and organised looting of the property has continued unabated,’ Gandhi told reporters.
High Court Judge S Muralidhar Transferred
The Centre on Wednesday night notified about the immediate transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice S Muralidhar, who had earlier in the day slammed the centre, the state government and the Delhi Police over the violence in the national capital. The judge has now been transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The notification came hours after the judge questioned the inefficiency of Delhi Police in containing the violence and for not registering FIRs against BJP leaders and others for their hate speeches.
Coming down heavily on the police for the violence in northeast Delhi the HC said, ‘ allow another 1984 riots.’
The court also observed that several people have left their homes and are afraid to get back. ‘If there aren’t enough shelters, the government should tackle this on ‘war footing’ to ensure that an adequate number of shelters are set up,’ Justice Murlidhar said.
The court also expressed that the killing of I-B officer is ‘extremely unfortunate’ and said that the Delhi chief minister and deputy CM should visit the affected areas for confidence-building among people.
Justice Murlidhar had also held a hearing at midnight at his residence, ordering the Delhi Police to rescue the people admitted in violence-hit north-east Delhi.
As criticism arose over Justice Murlidhar’s transfer, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad earlier today said that the decision was taken on the recommendation of a Supreme Court collegium, following a well-settled process.
Slamming the Congress, he said, ‘By politicising a routine transfer, Congress has yet again displayed its scant regard for the judiciary. People of India have rejected Congress Party, and hence it is hell-bent on destroying the very institutions India cherishes by constantly attacking them.’
Transfer of Hon’ble Justice Muralidhar was done pursuant to the recommendation dated 12.02.2020 of the Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India. While transferring the judge consent of the judge is taken. The well settled process have been followed.
â Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) February 27, 202085-Year-Old Woman Among Civilians Who Lost Life In The RiotsAkbari, an 85-yea-old woman, died after her home was set ablaze in Gamri village. ‘On Tuesday, I had stepped out of my home to buy milk. When I came back, there were 100-150 people in front of our gali. They broke through the gate, set fire to the first two floors. My children and wife ran, but my mother had difficulty moving because of her age,’ Akbari’s son, Mohammad Saeed Salmani, was quoted by The Indian Express….
