‘Won’t look at class or religion to book guilty,’ says Delhi Police after Jahangirpuri clashes

Delhi Police chief Rakesh Asthana asked people not to pay heed to rumours, particularly on social media.

The site where violence broke out between two communities during the Shobha Yatra procession on Hanuman Jayanti, at Jahangirpuri, in New Delhi on 16 April 2022 | ANI Photo

New Delhi: Twenty three people have been arrested so far in the violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on 16 April, the Delhi Police said on Monday.

Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said action would be taken against “any person found guilty irrespective of their class, creed, community or religion”.

Asthana said nine civilians and police personnel had been injured so far. The police were analysing CCTV and digital media footage to ascertain the level of culpability, he said. A forensic team was also on the crime scene, Asthana added.

The police chief warned people who were “trying to disturb peace through social media”. “We are monitoring social media closely and legal action will be taken against those who are found spreading misinformation,” he said.

He requested civilians not to pay heed to rumours.

Clashes broke out in Jahangirpuri on Hanuman Jayanti, Saturday, when a procession was passing through an area opposite a mosque.

Several states in India have seen violence in the last one week, both on Ram Navami on 10 April and Hanuman Jayanti last Saturday.