A ‘minor’ and ‘one-off’ incident of violence was reported in national capital’s Jahangirpuri on Monday after an investigation team of the Delhi Police was attacked by the family members of the man who had allegedly fired a gunshot during the clashes on April 16.
Briefing reporters about the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said the police team had gone to the suspect’s house in CD Park Road for a search and examination of his family members.
However, the family members started pelting stones at the team, Rangnani said, adding that legal action is being taken by officials.
“A video was being circulated on April 17 in social media showing a man (in blue kurta) opening fire during riot in Jahangirpuri area on April 16. Police team had gone to his house in CD Park road in his search and for examination of his family members,” Rangnani was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
“The family members pelted two stones on them in retaliation. Legal action is being taken. One person is detained. The situation is completely under control,” the DCP (Northwest) added.
In a purported video of the Saturday violence, the man, wearing a blue shirt, was seen opening fire during the clashes that had erupted when a Hanuman Jayanti procession was passing through localities in Jahangirpuri.
The Mosque Angle
“No, there was no attempt to hoist any saffron flag at the mosque during the procession,” Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said when asked if the clashes broke out after attempts were made by some to hoist the flag.
Several politicians and social media users had alleged that some people tried to hoist a flag on a local mosque in Jahangirpuri which led to stone-pelting and violence.
‘Nobody involved be spared irrespective of class, religion’
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana Monday said 23 people from both communities have been arrested so far in connection with the Jahangirpuri violence, and asserted that those involved will not be spared irrespective of class, creed or religion.
The city police chief also denied claims that attempts were made to hoist saffron flags at a local mosque in Jahangirpuri during the Hanuman Jayanti procession.
He told a press conference here that some people were trying to spread rumours on social media to keep the situation tense, and appealed to people to ignore them. The investigation into the Saturday clashes has been handed over to the Crime Branch and 14 teams have been formed to take it forward, he said, adding four forensics teams also visited the spot to gather evidence.
The probe will cover all angles through analysis of CCTV footage and digital inputs, he said.
Intelligence Fusion of Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police’s Special Cell has been given the responsibility to identify those involved in the case by doing a thorough and detailed analysis of digital evidence after collecting necessary evidence and accordingly legal action will be taken against them, he said.
Eye on Social Media
Noting that some people were trying to spread rumours on social media to keep the situation tense, the Delhi Police chief appealed to people to ignore them.
Those trying to disrupt the atmosphere through social media will also not be spared, he said.
“We are analysing the social media and if required those spreading false news, misinformation or tweeting any rumour with an intention to disturb the environment will not be spared and legal action will be taken against them,” he said.
