Four persons, including a policeman, were killed and at least 50 people were injured as supporters of the amended Citizenship Act and those opposing it clashed for the second consecutive day in North East Delhi on Monday. Mobs threw stones at each other, and set shops, houses and vehicles on fire, while police used tear gas and batons.
Violence took place in Maujpur, Jaffrabad, Bhajanpura, Kardampuri, Dayalpur and Chandbagh areas – located less than 15 km from the city’s centre – hours before United States President Donald Trump was to reach the national capital. Prohibitory orders are in place in affected areas, police said.
Here’s what we know so far about the violence that erupted in Delhi today
Delhi: Four killed during clashes over Citizenship Act ahead of Trump’s visit
Here’s how the day unfolded:
10.52 pm: The toll rises to four – three civilians and one head constable, reports PTI. At least 50 were injured.
10.50 pm: Delhi Police identify a man who opened fire at police earlier in the day as Shahrukh, ANI reports.
10.18 pm: The Central Board of Secondary Education says there are no centres for ongoing examinations in North East Delhi on Tuesday, ANI reports.
10.10 pm: Among those injured in clashes on Monday were at least 10 police personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Amit Sharma and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Gokalpuri) Anuj Kumar, PTI reports. Two personnel of Central Reserve Police Force were also reportedly injured.
10.01 pm: The Delhi government announces that all government and private schools will be closed in North East district on Tuesday. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia urges Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to postpone board examinations in the area scheduled for Tuesday.
9.34 pm: Special Commissioner of Police Satish Golcha says police officers are conducting foot marches and appealing to gatherings to disperse peacefully.
8.35 pm: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says only the common citizen and the country lose out due to violence, and it is everyone’s responsibility to stop it.
8.20 pm: Four metro stations on the Yellow and Violet Line have been reopened after staying closed for about an hour. According to PTI, the metro stations were closed after the Jamia Coordination Committee, comprising students and alumni of Jamia Millia Islamia, asked students to assemble outside the new police headquarters on Jai Singh Road.
8.13 pm: Security forces have been deployed in Khajuri Khas area in North East district, ANI reports.
8.10 pm: Reuters publishes pictures of a man being beaten up by supporters of the amended Citizenship Act.
7.40 pm: Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy says: “Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party and those people who are supporting protests against CAA should tell who is responsible for damaging the image of India.”
7.26 pm: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) accuses BJP leader Kapil Mishra of provoking violence in Delhi.
7.22 pm: A civilian called Furqan has been killed during the violence in North East Delhi, reports The Indian Express.
7.14 pm: Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy tells ANI that additional forces have been deployed in Delhi.
7.12 pm: Prohibitory orders under the Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been imposed outside the Delhi Police headquarters, NDTV reports. A notice says no protest will be allowed at the location and protestors will be detained as soon as they come.
Since December, protestors have gathered outside Delhi Police headquarters on multiple occasions as a response to clashes with police.
7.10 pm: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemns the violence in Delhi and urges residents to show restraint.
6.48 pm: A Hindustan Times journalist tweets a video of a gathering where “Jai Shri Ram” slogans are being chanted. He reports that an announcement that followed this said: “We trusted the media. They came here and reported wrong things against us. Now we condemn the media. Anybody who spots a media person should inform us.”
One group is heard chanting “shoot the traitors” slogan, he reports.
6.40 pm: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla says the situation in Delhi is fully under control and sufficient forces are on the ground, PTI reports. The Union Home Ministry controls the Delhi Police.
6.38 pm: “Government sources” tell some media outlets that the violence appears to have been orchestrated in view US President Donald Trump’s visit. Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik is stationed at the police control room and is closely monitoring the situation, PTI reports.
5.59 pm: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expresses sadness at the death of a Delhi Police head constable, and appeals for peace.
5.38 pm: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has closed three more metro stations in North East district: Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar. Since these are the last three stations of the Pink Line, trains on the route will now terminate at Welcome metro station.
5.34 pm: Referring to BJP leader Kapil Mishra, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Asaduddin Owaisi tweets: “These riots were a result of incitement by an ex-MLA & BJP leader. Now there is clear evidence of police involvement. The ex-MLA should be arrested immediately, urgent steps should be taken to control the violence. Otherwise, it’ll spread.”
5.31 pm: Chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” being heard in the Maujpur area, which is less than 2 km away from the site of the anti-CAA sit-in near Jaffrabad metro station.
5.05 pm: Earlier, a man opened fire during the clashes in Maujpur-Babarpur, reports The Indian Express.
5.03 pm: An India Today reporter alleges that protestors from both sides were “heckling and thrashing” mediapersons. She tweets that she was threatened by a group while “10 men were holding me tightly from my waist & shoulders”.
5.02 pm: A reporter of Scroll.in saw police personnel fire tear gas shells to disperse anti-CAA protestors around 3.45 pm in Maujpur. However, 500 metres ahead on the same road, she found a pro-CAA group standing undisturbed. The men brandished sticks, one of them carrying a sword. They were playing music and chanted Jai Shri Ram.
5 pm: A petrol pump has been set ablaze in Bhajanpura area, News18 reports.
4.57 pm: At least two vehicles and a fire tender were set ablaze in Jaffrabad and Maujpur earlier in the day, according to The Indian Express.
4.52 pm: Delhi Police say violence was reported from Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur areas of North East district. Police urge people to maintain peace and harmony and not to believe in any rumours. Strict action will be taken against miscreants and anti-social elements, police say.
4.50 pm: Pictures from Maujpur area:
4.32 pm: Prohibitory orders under the Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code have been imposed at 10 locations in North East Delhi, ANI reports.
4.30 pm: Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Amit Sharma is injured in his head and hand during the clashes, PTI reports. He has been taken to a hospital.
4.27 pm: BJP leader Kapil Mishra appeals to everyone not to indulge in violence. “Violence does not solve anything,” he tweets. “Maintaining Delhi’s brotherhood is in everybody’s interest. Whether you are in favour of CAA or against it or anyone else, violence must stop immediately.”
He also asks police to use force to remove anti-CAA protestors from Chand Bagh and Jaffrabad.
4.26 pm: Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal instructs the Delhi police commissioner to maintain law and order.
4.18 pm: Ratan Lal, a head constable, has been killed in a clash, PTI reports.
4 pm: Further ahead, a police official tells Scroll.in that anti-CAA protestors set a vehicle on fire. Around 3.45 pm, another round of tear gas was fired by Delhi Police.
Earlier too, the police had fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob and others tried to pacify the groups. Heavy security was deployed in Jaffrabad metro station area as women continued to protest against the amended citizenship law.
3.40 pm: In the morning, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had closed the entry and exit gates of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations for security reasons.
3.35 pm: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urges Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Home Minister Amit Shah to restore law and order. He tweets: “Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in...Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations.”
3.30 pm: Two shops have been set on fire in Delhi’s Maujpur area at around 3 pm as fresh clashes break out between pro- and anti-Citizenship Act protestors for the second consecutive day.
A reporter of Scroll.in was on the spot and saw a group of men set one of the shops on fire. The men had faces smeared with saffron and were carrying rods and sticks. They chanted “Har Har Mahadev” and “Modi, Modi, Modi”, as they threw stones and bricks at the homes and shops near Maujpur chowk. The arson took place near the site of a pro-CAA demonstration.
3.25 pm: What happened on Sunday:
- A group of around 500 people, mostly women, began a sit-in outside the Jaffrabad metro station on Saturday night to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.
- The protest continued on Sunday, prompting the Delhi Metro authorities to close the entry and exit gates of two stations – Jaffrabad in the morning and Maujpur-Babarpur in the evening. Security was stepped up around the protest site.
- Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra reached the locality on Sunday afternoon and gave a three-day ultimatum to police to remove the protestors. He said he would not listen even to the police if they failed to do so in three days. He tweeted, “We will not let another Shaheen Bagh come up.”
- Soon after Mishra left the area on Sunday evening, two groups clashed and pelted stones in nearby Maujpur area, prompting police to fire tear gas shells.
- Violence was brought under control in Maujpur by late on Sunday, but a car, three motorcycles and an eatery were set on fire in Karawal Nagar after 10 pm, according to The Indian Express.
- Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range) Alok Kumar said four cases had been registered in connection with violence during protests on Sunday. One first information report was filed at the Welcome police station and another at the Jaffrabad police station. Two other cases were filed at the Dayalpur police station.