New Delhi: The number of deaths in the unprecedented violence in Delhi since Sunday has risen to 20. Stone-throwing between rival groups, arson and vandalism on Tuesday marked unrelenting violence over citizenship law protests for more than 24 hours in northeast Delhi. 183 people have been injured in the clashes. The violence-hit areas continue to remain tense on Wednesday morning, with police and paramilitary personnel on the ground. Late on Tuesday night, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited areas affected by the violence and met with top police officers. Doval visited areas such as Seelampur, Jaffrabad, Maujpur and Gokulpuri Chowk to take stock of the law and order situation. The Cabinet Committee on Security – the final decision-making body on matters related to country’s security – will meet on Wednesday to discuss the violence in the capital. Doval will brief the committee of the situation. The violence, which left neighbourhoods looking as though it was a war zone, also led to the postponement of CBSE board exams to be held in affected areas on Wednesday.
The Delhi High Court, in a late-night order on Tuesday, asked the police to ensure safe passage and emergency treatment for those injured in the unprecedented violence in the capital since for the last three days. The hearing by a two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court took place at the residence of Justice S Murlidhar. The court was hearing an urgent petition seeking safe passage for the injured to medical institutions with adequate facilities. The court will take up the case again at 2:15 pm on Wednesday.
A large crowd, mainly students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Jamia Millia Islamia gathered outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence late on Tuesday last night, demanding action against the perpetrators of the violence. Delhi Police used water cannons and dispersed the crowd by 3:30 am.
Delhi Police has been heavily criticised for apparent inaction when the violence unfolded and for deploying inadequate forces on the ground. “The Ministry of Home Affairs is continually supporting us. We have adequate forces,” Delhi police chef Amulya Patnaik told news agency ANI on Tuesday.
