4 more bodies fished out from drains in riot-hit areas; 254 booked, 903 held’
A week after North-east Delhi’s deadly communal violence, the situation in riot-hit areas was peaceful but tense on Sunday as four more bodies were fished out from drains in Gokalpuri and Shiv Vihar and heavy police deployment continued. However, it is yet to be ascertained if they are linked to the riots and authorities have not updated the death toll figure.
The heavy presence of police in the riot-hit areas has helped in bolstering the confidence of residents and more people and vehicles were seen on main roads on Sunday.
In parts of North-east Delhi, people complained of cash crunch as several bank branches and ATMs have remained closed in the aftermath of the riots.
Delhi Police officials said they have registered 254 FIRs including 41 cases pertaining to Arms Act and have arrested 903 people till now. The police said they did not receive any PCR calls of rioting in the last four days. The two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) of the Crime Branch have fast tracked the probe and more people could be arrested, said sources.
“Autopsy on bodies of 32 of 38 bodies has been performed and bodies have been handed over to the family members. Three of the six bodies still remain unidentified,” a senior police official said.
Till Saturday, at least 42 people had lost their lives and more than 200 people have sustained serious injuries. Moreover, properties worth crores of rupees have been damaged in the communal violence.
While 38 deaths were reported at the GTB Hospital, three were reported at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital. At the GTB Hospital, 28 victims were brought dead while 10 died during treatment.
The GTB Hospital officials said it has admitted 271 injured patients since February 24, of which many were critical. “At present, only 40 victims remain at the hospital. Only 32 victims with minor injuries were brought to the hospital in the last 24 hours. Out of the 32 injured people that were admitted at the GTB hospital, 31 people have been discharged while one injured person is being treated,”, an official of the hospital said.
Meanwhile, acting Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava visited DCP Amit Sharma, undergoing treatment at a hospital in Patparganj after suffering serious injuries during the violence in Gokalpuri on February 24.
Also, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) deputed a fact-finding team to investigate the cases of violence. In a statement, the NHRC said it had asked its Director General (Investigation) to depute its fact-finding team for on-spot enquiries into violation of human rights during the violence.
Soon after taking charge on Saturday, acting Delhi Police chief SN Shrivastava said his priority is to restore peace and ensure communal harmony in the national Capital, which earlier this week witnessed its worst riots in three decades. Shrivastava was given the additional charge of Delhi Police Commissioner with effect from Sunday, following Amulya Patnaik’s retirement.
Police have also started a massive outreach programme and senior officers have been meeting and speaking with people from every community in order to build confidence among them.
Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited some of the riots-hit areas, including Brahmapuri, and consoled the people disturbed by the worst violence in three decades in Delhi.
The situation in Shiv Vihar, among the worst hit areas, is yet to improve. Even days after the violence, the lanes in the area were deserted and almost all the houses locked. In Mustafabad, people were wary of stepping out of their homes in narrow bylanes.
“Though there is police presence, tension is lingering. We celebrated Eid, Holi, Diwali together. I have never faced such a situation in my life. There is grief, mistrust, disbelief. Those who indulged in violence did not belong to the area, they came from outside,” said Mohammad Yunus, 45.
Yunus, who owns a garment store in Shiv Vihar, said he was saved by his Hindu neighbours during the violence and they tore the shop name-board outside to save the business from rioters.