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Police investigation team attacked by family of man who opened fire in Jahangirpuri: officials

A Delhi Police investigation team came under a “minor” attack on April 18 when it went to the house of a man who was seen firing a gunshot during violence in Jahangirpuri, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said a northwest district police team had gone to the suspect’s house in CD Park Road for a search and examination of his family members.

“His family members pelted two stones at the police team. Legal action is being taken. One person has been detained in this case. The situation is completely under control now,” she said.

In a purported video of the Saturday violence, the man, wearing a blue shirt, was seen opening fire during the clashes that had erupted when a Hanuman jayanti procession was passing through localities in Jahangirpuri. “Media reports about fresh stone-pelting [on Monday] is an exaggeration of facts. It was a minor, one-off incident. Legal action is being taken,” Rangnani added.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat slammed Delhi Police for a “one-sided” probe into the violence. “Did the police give permission to participants of the Hanuman Shobha Yatra held in Jehangirpuri in north-east Delhi on Saturday to carry firearms and swords, she asked Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana to explain.

In a letter, Karat criticised the Delhi Police for carrying out a “one-sided” investigation where only those belonging to one community were being arrested for the riots. The Delhi Police should explain why the procession was allowed to stop in front of the mosque, triggering the riots.
Women paramilitery personnel keep vigil after bricks were allegedly thrown at Delhi Police Crime Branch team at C-block in Jahangirpuri, in New Delhi on April 18, 2022.

“You have stated that people from both communities have been arrested. We stand for the arrest and punishment of all those guilty. However, the overwhelming majority of arrests are from the minority community whereas the course of events shows that the main provocations and planning for the incidents was done by the organisation which held the procession, an affiliate of the Bajrang Dal as stated by the police,” Karat wrote.

Citing the videos aired on several television channels along with eyewitness reports, the CPI(M) leader said these clearly showed that the procession taken out by members of the youth wing of the Bajrang Dal was armed with several men carrying naked swords, lathis and shockingly firearms. “These weapons were openly flaunted and brandished during the procession. The police have stated that the procession had police permission. Did the police give permission to carry arms? In fact the processionists who carried arms had clearly violated the Arms Act which has stringent provisions of imprisonment for such violations,” Karat added.

It was not clear, she said, from Asthana’s statements whether the persons who were carrying the arms had been booked under the relevant provisions of law including the Arms Act. “It is also unclear from your statement whether there is any investigation into the role of the police. Who is accountable for allowing an armed procession to stop in front of a mosque shouting provocative and aggressive slogans at the exact time when the prayers to break the Roza fast were scheduled to begin? Such deliberate acts of omission and commission by the police have directly resulted in the ensuing incidents,” Karat said.

The CPI(M) leader demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident and punishment to the police officers for failing to prevent the riots.