A temple in the Lal Kuan area of Old Delhi's Chawri Bazaar was vandalised on Monday, leading to communal tension in the area. The issue was reportedly sparked over a parking debate. When Mohammad (20) was parking his scooter outside a building, Sanjeev Gupta, a resident of the building, who runs an eatery stall there, objected to it, witnesses said. What happened next depended on who you talked to. As Hindustan Times reported, Gupta's wife Babita said Mohammad returned with a group of goons who attacked the Gupta and his family. However, Irshad, Mohammad's neighbour said he was thrashed without provocation.
Around midnight, a group of men—allegedly outsiders—entered the locality and vandalised a temple. "The incident of vandalisation of Durga temple and violence by anarchic elements in Old Delhi is condemnable and utterly shameful," Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted in Hindi.
"Delhi's law and order is in the hands of Home Minister Amit Shah and is the responsibility of the BJP government," he said. The Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Surjewala also appealed to people to not believe in rumours and maintain peace. Security has been beefed up in the Lal Kuan locality to prevent any flare-up. The trouble began late Sunday night when Aas Mohammad (20) was parking his scooter outside a building. Sanjeev Gupta, a resident of the building, who runs an eatery stall there, objected to it, witnesses said.
A video surfaced online which purportedly showed a man allegedly being beaten up by some people, who were suspected to be drunk, over a parking issue. Senior police officials said three separate cases have been registered in connection with the incident.
A case has been registered based on Mohammad's statement, the other case is based on the statement by Gupta and the third case was lodged against unknown persons for rioting and damaging public property. "When Mohammad and Gupta were at the police station, some unknown people gathered outside the temple and vandalised it. This led to tension in the area," Saqib, a 27-year-old software engineer and a local, claimed.
The temple is located on the Durga Mandir Street, just across the place where the incident occurred.
“After some altercation & scuffle over a parking issue in Hauz Qazi, tension arose b/w two groups of people from different communities.We have taken legal action & all efforts are being made to pacify feelings &bring about amity. People are requested to help in restoring normalcy,” DCP Randhawa wrote on Twitter.
