Hanuman Jayanti Violence Updates: 5 Accused Booked Under NSA After Amit Shah's Call for Strict Action Against ‘Rioters’, Say Sources

Five accused, including the alleged main conspirator, in the Saturday’s communal clashes in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri were on Tuesday booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), government sources said. The move comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for strict action against the rioters to avoid a repeat of the 2020 Delhi riots.

The five accused are the alleged mastermind Ansar Sheikh, Salim Chikna, Imam Sheikh alias Sonu, Dilshad and Aheed. READ MORE

Delhi Police arrested a person, identified as ‘Gulli’, for allegedly giving a pistol to an accused in the Jahangirpuri violence case, ANI reported quoting police.

The five accused booked under the stringent NSA in connection with the Hanuman Jayanti clash in Delhi are Ansar, Saleem Chikna, Imam Sheikh, Dilshad and Aheed.

Even as streets near Jahangirpuri’s Kushal Chowk on Tuesday witnessed some resumption of normal activities, an uneasy calm continued to prevail in the violence-hit area, PTI reported. Most shops remained closed for the fourth consecutive day, but a few vegetable and fruit carts were seen on the streets near Kushal Chowk. People were seen buying vegetables and grocery items. The situation has improved from the previous day’s, according to locals. Clashes broke out between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri on April 16, in which eight police personnel and a local resident were injured.

Ansar, the main accused in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri violence on Saturday, is a repeat offender, with multiple cases against him since 2009, top police sources told CNN-News18, adding that all arrested accused are giving contradictory statements.

Eight policemen and a local were injured in the clashes during a Hanuman Jayanti procession. Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Monday said 23 people belonging to two communities have been arrested so far. The investigation into the clashes has been handed over to the Crime Branch and 14 teams have been formed. Four forensics teams also visited the spot to gather evidence. READ MORE

Amid incidents of violence during festivals in some states, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that no religious procession should be taken out without permission and that usage of loudspeakers should not inconvenience others. With Eid festival and Akshaya Tritiya likely to fall on the same day next month and many other festivals lined up in the coming days, Adityanath said the police needs to be extra cautious.

Heavy deployment of security personnel in violence-hit Jahangirpuri in northwest Delhi will continue till the time normalcy returns, officials said on Tuesday. Clashes broke out between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri on Saturday, in which eight police personnel and a local resident got injured. According to police, there was stone-pelting and arson during the clashes and some vehicles were also torched.

On Monday, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana had said that the presence of police personnel in sensitive areas, including Jahangirpuri, will continue till the situation becomes normal. Speaking to a television news channel, Asthana had said, “We have deployed adequate force not only in Jahangirpuri, but in other areas also. We will use technology for surveillance and are monitoring the situation to make sure that no untoward incident occurs in the future.”

BJP member Hans Raj Hans told CNN-News18 on Tuesday that an “investigation should be done if there is any connection between Shaheen bagh protest and Jahangirpuri riots.”

Delhi police has sent a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs on Jahangirpuri violence incident.

A minor clash during a Shobhayatra procession was reported in Patna. During the immersion procession, there was a ruckus on Monday night near Belbarganj of Alamganj police station area. Reports of stone pelting amid the ruckus between the two groups also surfaced. After getting information about the commotion, the police of Alamganj, Khajekala and other police stations reached the spot and controlled the situation and took the procession under police supervision.

The way an atmosphere of riots is being created in two major cities by the ruling party is unfortunate. In Delhi, this is being done as municipal elections are coming up; BMC polls also coming up in Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

A Delhi Police investigation team came under a “minor” attack on Monday when it went to the house of a man who was seen firing a gunshot during the violence in Jahangirpuri, officials said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said a northwest district police team had gone to the suspect’s house in C-Block Jahangirpuri around 1.30 pm for search and examination of his family members. “His family members pelted two stones at the police team. One of the stones hit Inspector Satender Khari who was deployed in law-and-order arrangement near Kushal Chowk and he sustained injury on his right ankle. One person has been detained in this case. The situation is completely under control now,” she said. The case has been registered under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, Rangnani said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday directed the Delhi Police to take strict action against those involved in the Jahangirpuri violence here, official sources said. Clashes broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the national capital’s Jahangirpuri area on Saturday in which eight policemen and a civilian were injured. The home minister directed the Delhi Police to take strict action against those involved in the Jahangirpuri violence, sources said. Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Monday said 23 people belonging to two different communities have been arrested so far in connection with the violence. The investigation into the clashes has been handed over to the Crime Branch and 14 teams have been formed to take it forward. Four forensics teams also visited the spot to gather evidence.

The BJP and its associates are trying to create “communal situation” in the country, NCP chief Sharad Pawar alleged on Monday, comments coming in the backdrop of violence in several states during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti celebrations and the issue of loudspeakers atop mosques raging in Maharashtra. On the other hand, the NCP, a constituent of the Shiv Sena-led MVA government in the state, was at the forefront of creating an atmosphere of harmony among people, he said. In a series of tweets, Pawar said spread of communal ideology is a matter of concern and added the NCP will also flag issues relating to common citizens such as rise in prices of petrol, diesel, gas and edible oil. The BJP and its associates are trying to create communal situation in the country. We are taking part in works of creating awareness among the people and creating atmosphere to ensure harmony among them, Pawar tweeted in Marathi.

The Delhi Police on Monday arrested a 28-year-old man who was seen opening fire during a clash in the city’s Jahangirpuri area, officials said. The accused has been identified as Sonu alias Imam alias Yunus, a resident of C-Block in Jahangirpuri, they added. “A video was being circulated on social media platforms on Sunday, showing a man in a blue shirt opening fire during the riots in Jahangirpuri. He has been apprehended on Monday by the special staff of northwest district from Mangal Bazaar Road and one sophisticated pistol was recovered from his possession,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said. A case under section 25 of the Arms Act has been registered. Sonu has disclosed that he had fired his pistol near Kushal Chowk during the incident. Further investigation is in progress, the DCP said.

The Uttar Pradesh government, late on Monday night, cancelled the leaves of all police personnel in the state till May 4.

Those who are on leave have been asked to report within 24 hours.

The Chief Minister’s office said in a statement, “The leave of all administrative/police officers, from SHO, CO and district police chiefs to district magistrate, divisional commissioner is cancelled till May 4 with immediate effect. Those who are currently on leave, must return to the place of posting within the next 24 hours.”

The orders were passed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in view of festivals in the coming days. He also directed officials from police station to ADG level to hold dialogues with religious leaders and eminent personalities within the next 24 hours to ensure peace during the upcoming festivals.

Further orders include deployment of additional police forces in sensitive areas, foot patrolling, and use of drones to keep an eye on the situation. Police response vehicles (PRVs) have been directed to remain active.

Home minister Amit Shah spoke to top officials of Delhi Police about the Jahangirpuri violence case and directed the force to take strict action, so as to avoid a repeat of the riots in the northeastern part of the city in 2020. Police, meanwhile, booked organisers for taking out the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri area without permission. READ MORE