Medal Meena, the Delhi police sub-inspector who was injured in last night’s violence during a religious procession, said police initially separated the two communities when an altercation broke out between them outside a mosque in Jahangirpuri. The Hanuman Jayanti procession was supposed to go one way and the Muslims the other, but after a while they came face to face and the police were caught in between. Eight police officers and a civilian were injured in the violence. Mr. Meena was shot in the arm.
Police have arrested 14 men in the case so far. Among them is Aslam, who, according to police, shot at Sub-Inspector Meena. A pistol made in the country has been recovered from him.
Another man, Ansar, who started the argument, has also been arrested, police said.
Mr. Meena said he was on duty in the back of the procession, but came forward as the altercation began. “There was a fight in front, I went there. It turned into a fight. Then the stone throwing started in front of the mosque. But the staff separated the two groups.
Hanuman Jayanti’s procession people were sent to the G-block side. Then they reached Kushal Chowk from there. Those who came from the C block were stopped there. Then there was peace. But then more crowds came with staves and swords, and more stones began to throw from them. There were ladies, gentlemen and children. Bullets were also fired. I got hit in my hand,” he said.
However, the sub-inspector said he could not see who the attacker was. He also didn’t notice what caused the fight or who started it.
According to the first information report filed in the case, the rally was passing a mosque when Ansar allegedly started arguing with those who took part in the rally.
The altercation soon escalated and both sides started throwing rocks at each other, the FIR says.
A local resident, Noor Jahan, dismissed allegations that the violence started from inside the mosque. This was the first time weapons had been used at a Hindu religious gathering in the area, she said.
Last week communal clashes broke out in four states – Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal – during the celebration of Ram Navami, the festival marking the birth of the Hindu god Ram.