East Delhi’s Trilokpuri area continued to smoulder as incidents of stone pelting and violence were reported on Saturday. The violence had erupted on Friday night after a group of people belonging to minority community forcibly disrupted a religious gathering. Following the violence, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) carried out a flag march and combing operations in some blocks on Saturday and rounded miscreants involved in stone pelting. More than 14 people, including 13 police personnel, have sustained injuries and over 60 miscreants have been apprehended for rioting and arson while 10 have been arrested. According to the police, five people have been injured in the firing.
Fearing backlash, several families have locked their houses and fled. Heavy police deployment has been made to secure the area and raids are being conducted to arrest the trouble-mongers.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) East district Ajay Kumar said that restriction under Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in the entire Trilokpuri area to restore normalcy. People have been advised to refrain from visiting the areas, he added.
Meanwhile, rowdy elements started hurling acid bottles and bulbs on the security personnel. later, the RAF recovered several bottles. Blocks 15, 32, 27, and 15-23 stretch were worst-hit with broken bricks and stones strewn on the roads. Police had to use force to bring the situation to normalcy. Those arrested have been booked on the charges of rioting.
Investigations are on to identify the faces behind the turmoil. “Those behind the riot-like situation are being questioned to ascertain whether there was ensued the clash,” informed police officials.