Tension prevails at Trilokpuri

Two days after clashes between two communities, tension prevailed in east Delhi’s Trilokpuri area though there were no fresh incidents of violence on Saturday.

Police advised the public not to venture out to prevent any untoward incidents. Prohibitory orders have been in place and the area has seen a heavy deployment of policemen and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, particularly at four blocks that witnessed most of the violence. Senior police officers, including Police Commissioner B S Bassi, are monitoring the situation. The last violence was reported on Saturday afternoon.

However, with markets and business being totally shut down, residents have been busy discussing the violence so far. “No one in our locality slept last night. Clashes have been taking place in the night and we have to stay alert,” said Abrar Ahmed, a resident of block 27.

Rumours have further spread the fear. Most of the members of both the communities were unaware of what triggered the riots. Versions of the cause varied from person to person.

The most widely believed reason is that some drunken youths had created a ruckus near a temporarily erected place of worship in the area on Deepawali night.

That led to some others bursting crackers outside the worshipping place of another community, which triggered the violence. However, another version talked about how communal tension had been brewing in the area in the last one month.

A senior police officer told Deccan Herald that rumours have also circulated that information about some bad characters arrested by local police on Deepawali night was given out by members of the other community.

In any case, much of these rumours were circulated through phone calls and videos of stone pelting sent on WhatsApp, said residents. Residents, meanwhile, are mostly forced to manage with whatever supply of food and other basic necessities they have at home.

For residents of some blocks, the closest shop where they can purchase food is located at almost 20-minute walking distance away. Some milk parlours opened for half-an-hour on Sunday morning. 

But movement of vehicles and people has been curtailed. People heading towards Trilokpuri are being advised by those on the outskirts to avoid it. Police have been preventing residents from assembling in large groups even outside their homes.

Meanwhile, about 60 people were arrested. Some were let off while others were still locked up. The injured, including five persons who suffered bullet injuries, are said to be out of danger.