Days after the communal clashes at northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area, Hindu and Muslim communities together celebrated Eid on Tuesday. The both communities exchanged sweets, hugs at the Kushal Chowk to give a message of peace and harmony in the area. The locals also treated the security personnel deployed there to sweets.
Meanwhile, shops in and around Kushal Chowk, where the clashes took place on April 16, except for the main lane in Block C where a mosque is located were reopened. Hawkers and customers have also returned for business. Police said they had ensured adequate security arrangements on the occasion of Eid. According to Usha Rangnani, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), northwest district, police had adequate security and law arrangements put in place across the district.
“Aman Committee meetings have been conducted as always to maintain peace and tranquillity in all the areas,” said the DCP.
“Last month was quite tough for the people of Jahangirpuri. Today, on the occasion of Eid, we gathered at Kushal Chowk. We exchanged sweets and hugged each other and sent a message of harmony and peace.
This shows people in Jahangirpuri live in harmony and respect each other's religions," a representative from Muslim community Tabrez Khan said. Khan expressed hope that full normalcy will return in the area soon. "The situation is improving. Normalcy has returned to a large extent and we are expecting complete normalcy in the coming days," he said.
Indramani Tiwari, the president of the Residents' Welfare Association, who represented the Hindu community, said Eid is being celebrated in a peaceful manner.
“We are celebrating Eid together and expecting this harmony to remain among the people. There is peace in the area and we expect complete normalcy soon," Tiwari said.
Clashes broke out between the two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri, in which eight police personnel and a local resident were injured.
A week after the violence, Hindus and Muslims had together taken out a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Jahangirpuri's C block - the epicentre of the April 16 clashes - giving a message of peace and harmony.