Days after communal clashes took place in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on April 16, two more accused have been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the incident. With the arrest of the two, the police have nabbed a total of 32 people, including three juveniles in the case so far.
Police said that they arrested Yunus (48), brother of Saleem Chikna, and Sheikh Salim (22) on Sunday night. Both are residents of Jahangirpuri. Police said that Yunus also has a criminal case registered against him. During investigation and analysis of CCTV footage it emerged that Yunus was seen distributing swords to the crowd while Salim was seen receiving them from Yunus.
“Based on the CCTV footage, police team identified both the accused. The duo had absconded soon after the violence but were caught from Jahangirpuri area on Sunday night,” said the senior police official.
Analysing the digital evidence of the day the violence broke out, the police have been identifying those involved in the incident, and also using technical surveillance to locate and catch the culprits, officials said.
Meanwhile on Sunday, a delegation of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind had met senior police officials and expressed concern over the arrest of "innocent people" following the Jahangirpuri violence, the prominent Muslim body said in a statement.
It conveyed to the police officials that a particular community is being targeted by using the term stone pelters. In a statement, the Jamiat said the police department and its senior officials should play a responsible role and stop targeting a particular community.
The poor and the needy should be given a chance to restart their business, it said. The delegation also demanded that the police administration play a proactive role in addressing the fear and anxiety prevalent among the residents.
Clashes broke out between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri in the national capital on April 16, leaving eight police personnel and a local resident injured.
According to the police, there was stone pelting and arson during the clashes and some vehicles were also torched.
Days after the violence, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana had written to the Enforcement Directorate to investigate money laundering charges against the prime accused in the case. The police have slapped the stringent National Security Act against five of the accused in the case.