The death toll in the northeast Delhi communal violence over the amended citizenship law rose to 35 on Thursday. As per GTB Hospital authorities, 30 deaths have been reported at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, two at LNJP Hospital and one at Jag Parvesh Chandra Hospital. Delhi Police head Constable Ratan Lal was also killed in clashes on Monday. Hospital authorities on Wednesday said of the deceased at the GTB, at least nine received gunshots.
At the GTB Hospital, many grieving family members were waiting to collect the bodies of their dear ones. Asked if the victims have been identified, GTB Hospital Medical Superintendent said, "Many people have been identified, some are yet to be."
Patients have several kinds of injuries, including from gunshots, stones and other weapons and many were hurt while jumping from rooftops to escape the rioters, hospital authorities said. The injured recount horrific accounts of violence that they witnessed and how they managed to escape the deadly violence.
Brittle quiet after two days of mayhem
After two days of clashes, a brittle quiet settled over parts of riot-hit northeast Delhi but there was violence in some other places with shops set ablaze and the body of an IB staffer found in a drain. Shops and schools were closed and many streets deserted with police making announcements that no one should come out of their homes. There was heavy deployment of force in Chand Bagh with security personnel not allowing anyone to come out. In Gokulpuri, smoke darkened the skies with rioters setting on fire shops.
As police conducted flag marches and security personnel spread out across the northeastern edge of the national capital in a bid to quell the violence raging since Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first reaction appealed for peace and brotherhood. Asserting that it was important for calm to be restored at the earliest, Modi said on Twitter, "Had an extensive review on the situation prevailing in various parts of Delhi. Police and other agencies are working on the ground to ensure peace and normalcy."
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited some riot-hit areas. "What has happened has happened. Inshallah, there will be complete peace here," he said as he walked through the mostly mixed neighbourhoods and congested lanes of northeast Delhi and met locals. On Tuesday, he undertook a late night tour with Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and newly appointed Special Commissioner S N Shrivastava.
106 ARRESTED
The Delhi Police said it has arrested 106 people for their alleged involvement in the violence and have registered 18 FIRs. "No untoward incident was reported on Wednesday and PCR calls from northeast Delhi have reduced," Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mandeep Singh Randhawa told reporters. Calling the situation in northeast Delhi "alarming", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Army should be called in as police is "unable" to establish control.
An apex court bench of justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph lashed out at law enforcing agencies for allowing the "instigators of violence" to get away and said they should act as per law without waiting for somebody's nod. "If somebody makes an inflammatory remark, police have to take action," it said.
The Delhi High Court also reprimanded police. "... We should never allow another 1984... especially under the watch of the court and under your (Delhi Police) watch... We have to be very, very alert," a bench of justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani said.
