7 injured in clash between communities in northwest Delhi

At least seven persons were injured in a clash between two communities - during which some miscreants even resorted to stone-pelting - over the timings and use of loudspeakers for evening prayer at a place of worship in northwest Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area, police said today.
The police later brought the situation under control and registered a case of rioting, but no person has been arrested yet, said a senior police officer.
He further said around a dozen police officials have been deployed in the area for an indefinite period to monitor the law and order situation there.
According to the police, the situation was reported yesterday evening when some locals of B Block Bhalswa Dairy were praying at their place of worship in the locality. Some youths, who claimed to be from another community, suddenly arrived there in motorbikes and entered into an altercation with them over the prayer timings and use of loudspeakers.

Soon, some miscreants in the crowd resorted to stone pelting, leading to a chaotic situation in the locality. The locals called up the police control room and a team of officials rushed to the spot.
Later, the officials called for reinforcement but the miscreants allegedly fled the scene by the time another team of policemen arrived. The police later had to confront members of both communities allegedly blaming each other for the stone pelting spree.

Another such dispute was reported at the same locality a few weeks ago.
However, the reported dispute was settled with the help of the peace committee in the area, said the police officer. The police, however, dismissed such claims that members of one community had threatened members of others with swords, knives and guns.

"No weapons were recovered from the spot. We are also looking for CCTV footage to ascertain the identity of the miscreants who allegedly initiated violence," the officer added.