Delhi riots Highlights: 654 cases lodged, 1820 detained so far, says Police

Normalcy seems to be returning in the city with over 98 per cent attendance recorded in the class 12 board exam held in violence-affected areas during the day

10:41 PM

Delhi Waqf Board to start repair of mosques vandalised in violence

Khan on Thursday said the work for repair of mosques damaged in the violence in northeast Delhi will be taken up by the panel with an initial fund of Rs five lakh. The Masjid Committee of Waqf Board will start repair work from Friday and an advance of Rs five lakh has been issued for the purpose, Khan said. The panel claimed that 19 mosques were damaged during the violence last week.

9:14 PM

Special PTMs in govt schools in violence-hit northeast Delhi

Special parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) were held in government and aided schools in the violence-hit northeast Delhi for the second day on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia visited schools in the area and interacted with the parents. He advised them to not discuss the violence at home. "We are taking all the steps to erase every fear from the minds of students, but it is also important for you as parents not to discuss such issues which can adversely impact your children. So please ensure that there is no fearful atmosphere at home," Sisodia said during an interaction with parents at a school in Tukmirpur.

 

9:12 PM

Police scrutinising mobile data, videos to identify role of 'outsiders'

 The Delhi police is collecting and scrutinising hundreds of video footage of last week's communal clashes in the northeast parts of the city and also gathering mobile call and data records to identify those involved in the violence, officials said on Thursday. With several people from riot-hit areas such as Jafrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Kardampuri and Shiv Vihar alleging the role of "outsiders" in the riots, two Special Investigation Teams (SITs) of the Delhi Police's Crime Branch have been formed to probe the violence.

7:32 PM

Iran's Khamenei asks India to 'confront extremist Hindus'

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday asked the Indian government to confront what he called "extremist Hindus and their parties", saying the hearts of Muslims all over the world are "grieving" over the recent communal violence in Delhi. His remarks comes two days after India summoned Iran's Ambassador Ali Chegeni in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the "unwarranted" comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif over communal violence in the national capital. Read More Here

7:31 PM

India hits out at Erdogan, British minister for 'irresponsible' comments

India on Thursday hit out at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the UK's junior foreign minister Nigel Adams for their "irresponsible" comments over violence in the national capital when it is going through a "sensitive time". External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Erdogan's comments were "factually inaccurate" and driven by his "political agenda". Last week, the Turkish president had severely criticised India for the communal clashes in Delhi and even went on to call them "massacres of Muslims". Kumar said India had made a strong demarche on the matter with the Turkish Ambassador in Delhi on Tuesday.

7:01 PM

Death toll climbs to 53

Death toll in Delhi violence rises to 53. 44 at GTB hospital, 5 at RML hospital, 3 at LNJP hospital & 1 at Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital. 

6:29 PM

654 cases registered in Delhi violence

Northeast Delhi riots: 654 cases registered, 1820 people either detained or arrested, says police

5:38 PM

If police fails to enforce law, democracy fails: NSA Ajit Doval

Police should be seen by the common man as "credible and fair" and if it fails to enforce the law, democracy fails, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Thursday while addressing young police personnel from across the country. The NSA asked police officials to ensure that impressions, such as the police only serves the privileged, which sully the image of the organisation are removed. "Law-making is the most sacrosanct job in a democracy. It is not done by an imperial ruler or from the pulpit of a religious leader but by the representatives of the people and you are the enforcers of that law," he told the gathering. "If you fail, democracy fails," Doval said while inaugurating the 'Third young Superintendents of Police Conference' organised here by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), a police think-tank under the Union home ministry.

NSA Ajit Doval said the situation was under control after he visited the affected areas. He later briefed Home Minister Amit Shah on the situation. Photo | PTI

4:58 PM

Court dismisses Tahir Hussain's plea to surrender, police arrests him

Absconding AAP councillor Tahir Hussain was arrested by Delhi Police on Thursday after a court here dismissed his plea seeking to surrender before it in connection with alleged killing of Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma during the recent violence in northeast Delhi. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vishal Pahuja refused to entertain Hussain's plea saying that the relief sought by him was outside the court's jurisdiction. The court said that as per the provisions of 177 Criminal Procedure Code (Ordinary place of inquiry and trial), the offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by court within whose local jurisdiction it is committed. Read More Here

Tahir Hussain

4:57 PM

Situation in Delhi returning to normal: MEA

Situation in Delhi fast returning to normal, MEA said on the criticism by global bodies on violence in national capital. The Ministry added that law enforcement agencies doing their best to bring situation under control. 

3:00 PM

Suspended AAP councillor Tahir's surrender plea dismissed

2:24 PM

Ex-AAP councillor appears in court over IB staffer murder

Suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain through his lawyer Mukesh Kalia has moved a surrender plea before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vishal Pahuja.

1:58 PM

SC refuses to allow Colin Gonsalves to intervene in Harsh Mander’s hate speech matter

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to allow a victim of the recent Delhi violence intervene in a matter in which the Centre has raised the issue of alleged hate speech by activist Harsh Mander during anti-CAA protests.

 

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and said the riot victim wanted to intervene in the Harsh Mander case, which is scheduled to be heard on Friday.

 

"We will not allow you to intervene," the CJI told Gonsalves.

 

Gonsalves said he had seen the video of the alleged speech by Mander and wanted to place it on record.

 

"We had asked the solicitor general to put it (video of alleged hate speech by Mander) on record. We don't need you in that proceeding," the CJI said.

1:27 PM

Rahul Gandhi gives 'childish' statements: Pralhad Joshi

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that India is being "divided and burnt", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said that he used to make "childish" statements.

 

Joshi also raised questions about the Congress' policy after Gandhi's statements folowing his visit to the violent-hit northeast Delhi that has left over 46 people dead and about 200 injured.

 

He also raised questions about Congress' achievements over its 70 year's "divide and rule" politics.

 

"Rahul Gandhi is used to giving childish statements...Congress followed divide and rule policy for 70 years. Where is Congress now? The party is where it is now because of divide and rule politics," Joshi said inside Parliament premises.

11:56 AM

Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 pm over Delhi violence

11:15 AM

SC says it will hear pleas challenging CAA after arguments in Sabarimala matter are over.

9:20 AM

Mamata demands SC monitored probe in Delhi violence

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe into the communal violence in Delhi, in which at least 42 people lost their lives.

 

Addressing Trinamool Congress workers at a meeting in Sujapur in Malda district, Banerjee said, "In Bengal, for trivial issues, they (BJP) demand CBI inquiries. But even after the killing of so many people in Delhi, there has been no judicial probe. We want a judicial inquiry in this case under the supervision of the Supreme Court."

 

Banerjee alleged the "Gujarat model of riots" was replicated in the national capital.

 

Asserting that divisive forces won't be allowed in Bengal, she called for a united fight to tackle such situations.

 

"We believe in humanity, in unity among different communities, in love and not hatred, we will never allow such clashes, such violence to take place in Bengal. We will repulse them with all our might," she said.

8:43 AM

Delhi riots: Crime branch to investigate only murder cases, say sources

The Delhi Police crime branch will only investigate murder cases that were filed after the violence in northeast part of the national capital, sources said on Wednesday.

 

They said the cases of riots with section pertaining to murder will be investigated by the special investigation team (SIT) of the crime branch, while regular police teams would probe rest of the cases.

6:05 PM

5:33 PM

Attempts on to create panic over Coronavirus to divert focus from Delhi riots: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday alleged that "some people and channels" were trying to create panic over coronovirus in the country to divert attention from the Delhi communal riots.

 

She said "happy and healthy" people were killed in Delhi because of violence and not a virus.

 

"Today some people are shouting corona, corona [coronavirus] a bit too much. Yes, it's a dreaded disease but don't create panic. Some (TV) channels are creating hype over it to suppress Delhi violence. Do report when it occurs. We don't want the disease to spread, but don't create panic," she told a TMC meeting here in South Dinajpur.

4:34 PM

Over 97% attendance in class 10 board exams in riot-hit Delhi areas: CBSE

Over 97 per cent attendance was recorded in the class 10 board exam held in the violence-affected northeast Delhi on Tuesday, according to officials at the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

 

The class 10 students appeared for Science exam.

 

"The class 10 science exam was conducted successfully today by CBSE. It is encouraging to note that 97.8 per cent students appeared from 95 centres in northeast parts of Delhi," a senior board official said.

3:54 PM

SC unhappy over delay in hearing on Delhi riots

The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred the petition by Delhi riots victims to the Delhi High Court to explore possibility of an amicable resolution of the dispute. The top court also asked the High Court to list the matter on priority on Friday.
 

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant said: "We request the Delhi High Court to list the matter on Friday...as the long delay in the matter is not justified."
 

The top court said the petition pertaining to riots be heard on Friday along with other relevant matters, and the High Court should hear it as expeditiously as possible. The Delhi High Court had listed the matter on Delhi riots on April 13. Affected by the delay, the victims' counsel had moved the top court.

3:53 PM

SC refers to HC plea seeking lodging of FIRs against politicians for hate speech

3:53 PM

'Parliament will not run until Delhi riots are discussed'

Congress MP in Rajya Sabha Syed Naseer Hussain on Wednesday said that there is a consensus between Congress and other opposition parties for disrupting Parliament proceedings until the government is ready for an open discussion over Delhi violence.

2:33 PM

Rahul Gandhi to visit violence-affected areas of Delhi

12:15 PM

UK expresses concerns over potential impact of CAA

The UK government has reiterated its concern over the potential impact of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said it is continuing to follow the events in India closely.

 

In response to an urgent question on “Recent Violence in India” tabled by Pakistani-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Khalid Mahmood in the House of Commons on Tuesday, UK's Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Nigel Adams said the UK engages with India at all levels, including on human rights, and also referred to the country's "proud history" of inclusive government and religious tolerance.

 

"The UK government also have concerns about the potential impact of the legislation (CAA),” said Adams, the Minister for Asia who was standing in for UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is on a visit to Turkey.

12:03 PM

HC says nothing wrong with AAP govt's compensation for riot victims, dismisses plea

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the AAP government's compensation announced for victims of the riots in northeast Delhi last week.

 

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said "it is a policy decision" and it will "not interfere" in it.

 

"The compensation is being awarded on a no fault basis. There is nothing wrong with it," the court said. It also asked the Delhi government to ensure that compensation is paid only to the victims of the riots.

12:03 PM

Special parent-teachers meetings being organised in govt, aided schools in northeast Delhi

Special parent-teacher meetings are being organised in government and aided schools in violence-affected northeast Delhi on Wednesday, officials said.

 

"The teachers will counsel parents and students in view of the violence in the area," a senior Directorate of Education official said.

 

Schools in the area are closed till March 7, while board exams are being conducted amid tight security.

12:00 PM

HC asks Delhi govt to ensure compensation is paid only to victims of riots.

11:59 AM

HC dismisses plea challenging compensation announced by Delhi govt for riot victims, says nothing wrong with amount.