The Delhi Police was kept on its toes throughout the Sunday night as people kept calling the Police Control Room (PCR) in sheer panic. PCR received 1,880 distress calls on Sunday night after riot-related rumour mongering or fifth generation war broke out in the national Capital creating panic among the residents.
The Delhi Police senior officials reached out to the people to scotch rumours and later detained and arrested 21 miscreants from North-west Delhi, including one in Rohini. On the other hand, Police said it has initiated action against 18 persons in South Delhi.
Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava issued a statement urging people not to spread rumours as that disturb communal harmony and peace.
“Police is keeping eye on rumour mongers on social media,” said the CP adding that people should verify rumours from the Delhi Police control room.
According to a senior police official, the maximum emergency calls on numbers 112 and 100 were received from West and South-east district respectively. There were 481 calls in West district followed by Southeast district which saw 413 distress calls following the rumours.
"Further, 30 distress calls were received from Southwest district, 310 from Dwarka district, 222 calls from Outer Delhi district, 127 from South Delhi district, 168 calls from Rohini, 54 distress calls from Northwest district, 35 calls from Central district, six from East district, four calls were received from Shahdara district, six calls from North district and two calls were received from Northeast district which witnessed riots," said the official.
"The police in northwest district have arrested 21 person for spreading rumors under 7/51 Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC), one has been arrested in Rohini. In south district, action has been initiated against 18 persons and 02 cases have been registered under appropriate sections," said a senior police official.
“One person, identified as Abhishek Shukla (24), has been arrested by Cyber Crime Cell for spreading rumours about riots in Nihal Vihar area of West Delhi. The arrested accused has over 10,000 followers on social media, and was using his following to spread rumours. His mobile phone has been recovered and the alleged social media post has been confirmed to have been posted from his profile. His further antecedents are being examined, said the senior police official”.
"Besides the Police Control Room (PCR) calls, several people from within Delhi as well as outside called up police officials, including officers, directly to verify information about violence breaking out," said the senior police official.
Panic gripped the residents of several parts of Delhi on Sunday evening following false rumours of violence, days after riots in northeast Delhi claimed at least 45 lives. Even as the Delhi Police and AAP leaders denied any such incident and appealed people to remain calm, the uneasy prevailed around city recording 1880 distress calls across the city.
Following the rumours, on Sunday evening the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it had shut down the entry and exit gates of seven metro stations but did not give any reason. The stations were later reopened after 45 minutes. Metro officials later clarified that the steps were precautionary in measure.