In a major move, the Delhi Police has registered a case against members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal for organising the Shobha Yatra in Jahangirpuri on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti without any permission. Police said Prem Sharma, an alleged organiser of the procession, has joined the investigation.
“Further investigation is on,” said sources. It is learnt that prior permission for the Shobha Yatra had not been taken and cops are now acting against the culprits .
In the first communal flare up since the 2020 riots, the Delhi Police is once again scanning the social media to track suspects involved in orchestrating the Jahangirpuri violence. Twenty-three people, including two juveniles, have already been arrested in connection with the violence.
What’s worrisome for security agencies is the recovery of three firearms and swords from those arrested. Eight of the arrested people have previous criminal records.
The crime branch is probing the case while a team of forensic experts visited the spot on Monday.
More than a dozen teams of cyber sleuths are on the prowl scanning social media and digital spaces to analyse the alleged role played by certain elements in the conspiracy that has resulted in communal clashes in the national capital.
Larger conspiracy suspected
Intelligence sources said that there are links indicating that the violence was not spontaneous, instead a conspiracy was hatched by certain elements where social media has also played a huge role. Allegations have been flying high on whether some of the prime accused are associated with a certain political party. The Delhi Police is treading cautiously saying action will be taken as per law.
The Union home ministry is keeping a close watch on the situation and regular updates are being shared with Home Secretary A.K. Bhalla.
Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said any accused who participated in the crime directly or indirectly will be tracked and action will be taken. Some people are trying to vitiate the atmosphere through social media, he said.
Meanwhile, Soni Chikna, one of the suspects holding a gun during the violence has been arrested. The Delhi Police is scrambling through CCTV footages and analysing other evidence.
Sources said the Shobha Yatra, organised to mark the Hanuman Jayanti, started from the traditional route but an altercation happened towards the end.
In its FIR, the Delhi police said that the procession was proceeding peacefully till it reached Jama Masjid where an accused Anshar, 35, a resident of Jahangirpuri , along with five six others started arguing with some of the participants. Tempers rose on both sides and there was an altercation which finally resulted in escalation of violence. Nine people including eight policemen got injured while trying to prevent the situation from escalating.
More arrests are likely to be made after the social media and digital evidence is collected. “Those who were physically and virtually part of the crime will be booked,” said an official .
The central paramilitary forces have been deployed in sensitive areas of Delhi even as the city police is asking people not to believe in rumours .
“Some people are trying to disturb the environment. Action will be taken against them,” said an official.
