Jahangirpuri violence | Two juveniles among 20 held

Firearms, swords seized from accused

A day after communal clashes broke out in Northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, the Delhi Police on Sunday said it had arrested 20 persons, 15 of whom are Muslims, in connection with the case and booked them for rioting and criminal conspiracy.

Police also said that two juveniles have also been apprehended. Officers said three firearms and five swords have been recovered from the accused persons.

The accused, all residents of Jahangirpuri, have been identified as Zahid, 22, Anshar, 35, Shahjad, 33, Muktyaar, 28) Mohd. Ali, 22, Amir, 22, Akshar, 22, Noor Alam, 28, Md. Aslam, 22, Zakir, 22, Akram, 22, Imtiyaz, 29, Mohd. Ali,27, and Ahir, 35. All the accused were presented before a Delhi court on Sunday. Police said both Anshar and Aslam have previous criminal records.

DCP(Northwest) Usha Rangnani said a case has been lodged at Jahangirpuri Police Station under various IPC sections pertaining to rioting, arson, criminal conspiracy and under section 27 of the Arms Act. The case has now been transferred to the Crime Branch.

The DCP added that nine persons, including eight police personnel and one civilian, were injured in the violence and were subsequently treated at a nearby hospital. “One Sub-Inspector (SI) sustained bullet injuries. His condition is stable,” the DCP said. The SI was identified as Meda Lal.

On Saturday evening, clashes broke out in the area between members of the Hindu and Muslim communities while a ‘Shobha Yatra’ to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti was being taken out in the area.

In the FIR, the complainant, Inspector Rajiv Ranjan Singh, stated that the violence broke out after Anshar, accompanied by some other men, allegedly started arguing with members of the procession which eventually snowballed into a riotous situation and led to stone pelting between both the sides.