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Delhi violence: Riot-hit areas limping back to normalcy, toll rises to 42

Last Updated 28 February 2020, 14:12 IST

Riot-hit localities of north-east Delhi was on Friday limping back to normalcy from the horrors of violence in past five days following a 10-hour relaxation on prohibitory orders, even as four more persons succumbed to their injuries, taking the toll to 42.

A 60-year-old scrap dealer Ayub Shabbir was found beaten to death in Karawal Nagar on Friday early morning. "My father stepped out today at 5 AM. However, sometime later, two men brought him on a scooter saying he had been beaten up. He had injuries on head and leg," Shabbir's son Salman said.

The Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital has recorded 38 deaths, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital three, and the Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital has reported one since the violence started on Sunday.

Delhi Police has filed 75 more FIRs in connection with the violent clashes, taking the total to 123. Officials said 630 people were either arrested or detained so far in connection, Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa said.

On Friday, some shops were open in areas like Jafrabad, Bhajanpura and Shiv Vihar while people got out to buy essential goods for survival, negotiating themselves through the debris littered around streets.

Vehicles, including auto-rickshaws, were also out on streets but not in large numbers, as over 7,000 police and paramilitary personnel kept a close vigil in sensitive areas. Municipal workers were seen removing the debris from streets that were littered with bricks and broken glass.

All measures were taken to ensure that Friday prayers go without any untoward incidents even as local mosques issued appeal to locals to remain united and not fall prey to rumours. Police are also holding peace meetings in several localities to ensure that people are not incited.

Delhi Police Joint Commissioner O P Mishra, who was in riot-hit areas, said in Chand Bagh that the opening of shops was a sign of normalcy. "This process of normalisation in the area started on Thursday. Our focus is to assure all citizens residing here is that they must start their normal life now," he said.

"People here must revive their 'Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb' (composite culture) which got some kind of dent. We have held discussions with peace committee here, we made elaborate arrangements in view of all devotees who was going to offer prayers to mosques," he said.

Police officials said they could further relax prohibitory orders if signs are favourable from the spots. The decision to relax prohibitory orders was taken a review meeting held by Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the Delhi government has set up nine shelters for the riot-affected people and is distributing food among them. He also said the government has started distributing Rs 25,000 in cash, as part of compensation, to those whose houses have been burnt.

Meanwhile, a team of Delhi Forensic Science Laboratory collected evidence from suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain's factory in Chang Bagh after he was charged with murder of Intelligence Bureau Security Assistant Ankit Sharma.

Special Commissioner (Law and Order) S N Shrivastava, who was given additional charge of Delhi Police Commissioner from next Sunday, said, “We are trying to bring every culprit to justice and we are working on it.”

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal visited riot-affected areas like Maujpur, Jaffrabad and Gokulpuri for the first time after clashes erupted last Sunday.

National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma along with two members held a meeting with senior police officials and later visited Jaffrabad. She said there was "a little bit of tension" but on the whole the atmosphere is peaceful.

The MHA on Thursday night had said that only about 4.2% of Delhi's geographical area has been affected by communal riots in north-east Delhi while normalcy has prevailed in other areas, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Thursday night after a review meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah.

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(Published 28 February 2020, 09:47 IST)

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