The central probe agencies are examining whether the violence at Jahangirpuri in Delhi has any links with the recent communal clashes in Karauli in Rajasthan and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh. The agencies claim that the modus operandi of all these incidents is similar, hinting at a larger conspiracy to disturb the communal harmony in the country.
Quoting sources in the security set up, the IANS reports that the attacks on religious processions in these states have been noticed in places where both Hindu and Muslim communities have been living for a long time.
In Karauli, violence erupted on April 2 after stones were allegedly pelted at a procession on the occasion of Nav Samvatsar, the first day of Hindu New Year. Over 42 people were injured in the clashes.
In Khargone, the two communities clashed as a religious procession on the occasion of Ram Navami passed through the Talab Chowk area. Stones were pelted from both sides leaving several people injured.
Violence broke out in Delhi's Jahangirpuri on Saturday afternoon during a Hanuman Jayanti procession. According to police, there was stone-pelting and arson during the clashes between the two communities that left eight police personnel and a local injured. Some vehicles were torched.
Fourteen people, including one of the "main conspirators" behind the clashes and another person who allegedly fired a bullet that hit a sub-inspector, have been arrested.
Police said they have also recovered a pistol from Md Aslam (21), a resident of a slum cluster in Jahangirpuri's CD Park, which he allegedly used during the commission of crime Saturday evening.
Aslam has also been found to be involved in a case registered at Jahangirpuri police station in 2020 during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Officials said overall security arrangements have been stepped up in all the remaining 14 police districts of the national capital and technical surveillance mounted to ensure no untoward incident takes place.
Soon after Saturday's incidence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to Delhi Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana and Special Commissioner (law and order) Dependra Pathak over the violence and directed them to take necessary action. The home ministry is keeping a close watch on the security situation.
