The death toll in Delhi’s violence on Monday over the controversial citizenship legislation has risen to five, including a cop, even as those injured continue to get treatment in various hospitals, said media reports on Tuesday.
A senior Delhi Police official of the rank “deputy commissioner” was among the six cops who were seriously injured in the clashes. Media reports said that around 75 people were injured in Monday’s clashes.
While the cop died of head injuries due to stone pelting, doctors were quoted as saying that the four civilians who died had “gunshot injuries.”
Intense violence had erupted in north-east parts of the Indian capital, when clashes broke out between the supporters of the “Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)” and those opposed to it. The violence hit areas, in particular, were Maujpur, Jafrabad, Bhajanpura, Karawalnagar, and Babarpur. One petrol station was set on fire by the protesters.
Following the violent clashes, prohibitory orders have been issued denying permission for congregation of more than four persons at a spot in the affected areas. However, defying the prohibitory orders, several miscreants and protesters indulged in stone pelting in several areas on Tuesday too.
According to the latest media reports, several vehicles were set on fire in the Karawalnagar area. Tuesday is the third consecutive day when protests, both in support and opposition, have emerged over the CAA.
Two separate groups of people were seen pelting stones on each other on Monday. Several rounds of gunshots were fired by miscreants, one of whom was caught on cameras. He was later identified as “Shahrukh”, a resident of Maujpur area, and subsequently arrested by the local police.
Sensing the tense situation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called an emergency meeting of his cabinet colleagues and senior Delhi government officials on Tuesday.
Protests have been going in several parts of Indian capital, particularly in south Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area for more than two months. Over the past couple of days, the protests spread to other areas too, especially in north-east Delhi.
Those supporting the CAA objected to the fresh protests that began in north-east Delhi, which led to heated arguments between the two sides and finally led to the violent clashes.
The CAA aims at granting citizenship to immigrants belonging to six communities – Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, Parsi and Christianity, from three countries namely Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Those oppose to the CAA argue that the Act was “contrary” to secular principles enshrined in India’s Constitution as it excluded the Muslims.
