New Delhi:
Delhi Police sub-inspector Medal Meena, who was injured in last night’s violence during a religious procession, said the police had initially separated the two communities when they had a dispute outside a mosque in Jahangirpuri. The Hanuman Jayanti procession was taken to one side and the Muslims to the other, but after some time they came face to face and the police were caught in the middle. Eight policemen and a civilian were injured in the violence. Mr. Meena was shot in the hand.
The police have so far arrested 14 people in this case. These include Aslam, who police say shot Sub-Inspector Meena. A country-made pistol was recovered from him.
Another person, Ansar, who started the fight, has also been arrested, police said.
Mr. Meena said that he was on duty behind the procession, but came to the fore when the dispute started. “Further on, the debate started, I went there. It turned into a brawl. Then stone pelting started in front of the mosque. But the employees separated the two groups.
People were sent towards G Block on Hanuman Jayanti. Then they reached Kushal Chowk from there. Those coming from C block side were stopped there. Then there was peace. But then there came more crowds with sticks and swords, and more stone-pelting took place among them. There were ladies gentlemen and children. Bullets also fired. I was hit in the hand,” he said.
However, the sub-inspector said that he could not see who the attacker was. He didn’t even see who started the fight and who started it.
Delhi Police constable shot in hand
As per the First Information Report filed in the case, the rally was passing through a mosque when Ansar allegedly started arguing with the rally participants.
The FIR said that the dispute soon escalated and both the sides started pelting stones at each other.
A local resident, Noor Jahan, dismissed the allegations that the violence started from the mosque. He said this was the first time that weapons were laid at a Hindu religious rally in the area.
Last week, communal clashes erupted in four states – Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal – during the celebration of Ram Navami, the festival that marks the birth of the Hindu god Ram.