A year after riots in North-East Delhi, the Delhi Police said that around 471 Peace Committee meetings have been conducted for maintaining peace and harmony amongst residents. Police said that the North East district Police is also facilitating the victims or submissions of forms for their claims, with regard to damage of properties and injuries and as on date, 2,599 forms have been submitted before the Riot Claim Commission.
According to Chinmoy Biswal, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Delhi Police, no communal riot took place in North East Districts since February 2020 and this has been possible due to continuous dialogue with communities, peace committee meetings and various community outreach programmes.
“ Moreover, even as District remained engaged with investigation of riots, massive efforts were made to contain street crime. In year 2020, 956 Calls of Robbery were reported against 1353 in year 2019 which shows a decrease of 20.34 per cent in PCR calls of robbery,” said the PRO.
“ Similarly, in year 2020, 2460 calls of snatching were reported against 4225 in year 2019 which shows a decrease of 41.77 per cent in PCR calls of Snatching. In year 2021, 349 calls of Snatching were reported upto 16 February against 518 in year 2020 which shows a decrease of 32.62 % in PCR calls of snatching,” said Biswal.
“ As of now, investigation of the riot cases is in full swing. All possible efforts are being made to solve the unsolved riot cases, besides taking the on-going investigation to logical conclusion in a time bound manner,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Government distributed approximately 20 crores as ex-gratia compensation among the victims for their immediate relief and rehabilitation.
According to police, Delhi witnessed one of its worst communal riots in the month of February, 2020 which was spread over 11 police stations of North-East District.
“ These communal riots took place as the culminating high point of various sustained sit-in and roadblock (Chakka-Jaam) protests organized by seemingly amorphous but bonded by under-currents Anti CAA groups. Anti-CAA Protests were also organized in the areas of Hauz Rani, Jama Masjid, Darya Ganj, Seelampur, Nabi Kareem, Shastri Nagar, Sadar Bazar etc. where substantial Muslim population resides,” said police.
The riots started on the 23rd February, 2020 and lasted till late night of 25th February, 2020, causing loss of 53 lives and damage to several public/private properties. The areas which were badly affected by the communal riots were mainly covered in the 11 police stations of North-East District namely Jafrabad, Welcome, Seelampur, Bhajanpura, Jyoti Nagar, Karawal Nagar, Khajoori Khas, Gokal Puri, Dayalpur and New Usmanpur.
By afternoon of 24th February 2020, full scale riots broke out when violence was reported on the 66 Foota Road and Wazirabad Road and clashes spread to other areas, which continued till the night of 25th February.