New Delhi:
A group of intellectuals and academics, led by Supreme Court lawyer Monika Arora, released a “fact-based” report on Monday about the communal clashes in Jahangirpuri, days after visiting the violence-affected area.
Shruti Mishra, a member of the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), said the “witnesses told them that the Hanuman Jayanti procession was peacefully performed in the C-block area of Jahangirpuri on April 16 and that the crowd was provoked by Ansar (the prime suspect in the violence) as they passed the mosque.”
“Those who pelted stones on Sunday (April 16) were so aggressive that they did not even spare the police officers present at the scene. They also tried to break Lord Hanuman’s idol,” Ms Mishra said, releasing her. the report here.
Also present at the time of the report’s publication was Uma Shankar, who led the Hanuman Jayanti procession and was the only civilian injured (according to Delhi police).
He claimed he was attacked with a sword when the violence broke out. He said the procession was conducted “peacefully” and that “women pelted stones in large numbers at them as they crossed the area where the mosque stands (C-block)”.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Prem Sharma, who was questioned by Delhi police in connection with the violence, was also present at the release of the report.
He claimed that the police had authorized their procession and that they have been conducting similar “peaceful processions” for years.
“The Delhi Police FIR appeared to be a balancing act. We noticed that a section in Jahangirpuri C block is occupied by illegal immigrants,” said Supreme Court lawyer Monika Arora.
Social activist Monica Aggarwal, who was also part of the five-member fact-finding team, said several innocent people suffered losses as a result of the violence.
“A young man, who is not even a resident of Jahangirpuri, was attacked and his bicycle stolen when violence broke out there. It was less than a year ago that the young man got a job and bought a bicycle with his hard-earned money. the C-block area with a five-year-old kid when he was attacked,” she said.
So far, 25 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, while two minors have been detained. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police is investigating the matter.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)