New Delhi: The Delhi Police has arrested 20 people over the violence during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the city’s Jahangirpuri area, including the “main conspirators” behind the clashes and another person who allegedly fired a bullet that hit a sub-inspector, officials said on Sunday.
Two juveniles have also been apprehended in connection with the incident, they said.
Police said they have also recovered a pistol from one of the accused– Md Aslam (21), a resident of a slum cluster in Jahangirpuri”s CD Park, which he allegedly used during the commission of crime on Saturday evening.
They said there was stone-pelting and arson during the clashes between two communities that left eight police personnel and a local injured. Some vehicles were also torched.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Usha Rangnani said an FIR was registered on Saturday under Indian Penal Code sections, including 307 (attempt to murder), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 147 (rioting), and provisions of the Arms Act.
“In total, 20 persons have been arrested and two juveniles have been apprehended.Three firearms and five swords have been seized from the possession of accused persons,” she said.
The officials said the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch which with the help of the district police will carry out further investigation in the case.
“One of the accused persons, identified as Md. Aslam, fired a bullet that hit a sub-inspector of the Delhi Police. The pistol used by the accused during the commission of crime has been seized from his possession,” Rangnani said.
Aslam has also been found to be involved in a case registered at the Jahangirpuri police station in 2020 under sections 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, she added.
She said that of the 20 arrested is also Ansar (35), a resident of Jahangirpuri, who is alleged to be among the “main conspirators” behind the violence.
The officer said he was also found to be previously involved in two cases of assault, and was also arrested repeatedly under preventive sections and booked five times under the Gambling Act and the Arms Act.
Ansar”s wife told reporters that her husband is innocent and was not part of any violence.
“My husband is innocent. He is not part of any violence. He had only gone there to intervene and stop the fight but the police picked him up and later arrested him,” she alleged.
The 18 others who have been arrested have been identified as Zahid (20), Shahjad (33), Mukhtyaar Ali (28), Mohd. Ali (18), Amir (19), Aksar (26), Noor Alam (28), Zakir (22), Akram (22). Imtyaz (29), Mohd. Ali (27), Ahir (35), Sheikh Saurabh (42), Suraj (21), Neeraj (19), Suken (45), Suresh (43), Sujeet Sarkar (38), all residents of Jahangirpuri.
Earlier, Special Commissioner (Law and Order-Zone 1) Deependra Pathak said, “Fourteen persons have been arrested so far and investigation is on. Further process of identification is being done based on CCTV and other video footage.”
—PTI

Press Trust of India