NDTV, New Delhi :
A Delhi Police officer was killed and another injured today as violence broke out across multiple northeast Delhi neighbourhoods for a second time in less than 24 hours. 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 the area. The violence comes hours before United States President Donald Trump is expected in Delhi as part of his two-day state visit. It also comes close on the heels of clashes near Jaffrabad on Sunday afternoon, where over 1,000 women have gathered since Saturday night in a peaceful protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA.
A Delhi Police Head Constable was killed in Chand Bagh and a Deputy Commissioner (DCP) was injured in Gokulpuri in northeast Delhi today. In disturbing videos of the violence, which spread to Bhajanpura, Maujpur and Jaffrabad, among other areas, vehicles and shops were also set ablaze. A petrol pump was set on fire in Bhajanpura as petrol bombs were thrown by anti-CAA protesters. In another video a man in a red shirt can be seen running towards an unarmed Delhi Police officer waving what appears to be a gun; he approaches the cop before turning and firing into the air. Other videos of the clashes show people from both groups breaking off stones and chunks of the concrete divider along the main road to throw at each other. In at least one of these videos people can be heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.
Attempting to restore order, Delhi Police resorted to firing tear gas shells in an effort to control the situation. Once the violence escalated, paramilitary forces were called in to restore peace. Delhi Metro has closed the Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar stations. Large gatherings have been banned under Section 144.
Responding to news of the violence Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called it “very distressing news” and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah – under whose control Delhi Police rolls up – to “restore law and order and ensure peace and harmony is maintained”. Political analyst Yogendra Yadav also took to Twitter to raise alarm over the clashes.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal tweeted as well, saying that he had “instructed Delhi Police to ensure that law and order is maintained in northeast Delhi”. “The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony,” he said.
United States President Donald Trump is due in Delhi at around 7.30 pm. On his first to India, Mr Trump is expected to raise the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier today, addressing a massive crowd at the 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 the area. At the rally, he gave an “ultimatum” to the Delhi police to clear the roads in the area or else, he said, they would have to hit the streets.
Sunday also witnessed violent clashes 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.
Mobile internet in Aligarh was suspended at 6 pm on Sunday and has yet to be restored. Eight people were injured in the violence – five protesters and three police officers. One of the injured protesters had a gunshot wound; the police have denied opening fire.
Massive protests have swept the country against the citizenship law, which makes religion test for citizenship for the first time in India. While government says it will grant citizenship to minorities from three Muslim-majority neighbouring countries, critics have called the law “anti-Muslim”.
