Several injured in clash with cops at disputed Karbala site

Several people were injured here this evening in South Delhi's Karbala area after locals clashed with police when they were stopped by the cops from entering a disputed site during a religious procession.
The Karbala land near Jorbagh has been a disputed site since several years and an order of the Delhi High Court restricts entry into the area.
A large number of people tried to enter the area, prompting the police to use mild lathicharge on the crowd to disperse them, a police official said.
As per the High Court order, only two persons can be allowed to enter the nursery area and put 'chadar' on the graves at the site, he added.

The organisers claimed that they had earlier requested the Station House Officer (SHO) of Lodhi Colony to provide adequate force to manage such a large gathering.
However, the SHO had denied to accept it. The letter was also mailed to senior police officers, they said.

The police said it will register a case against those who created the menace and engaged in rioting.
The area has witnessed violent protests in the last few months over the issues of ownership of the Karbala land on there is a nursery built and some graves where people go to offer prayers. There has been heavy police presence in the area since then.

Anjuman-e-Haideri, the trust which manages the Dargah, claims that the increased police presence during their religious meeting of March 30 and thereafter, has created tension in the area.
On January 22, the court had directed that the people whose relatives have been buried in the graves inside the nursery be allowed to visit them after writing their names in a register.
Thereafter, on March 28, the high court had barred holding of any protest at Karbala on March 31 and had said that any demonstration be held at designated places like Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar after taking permission.
On March 30, however, clashes had occurred at the Karbala grounds, in which some cops were injured and FIRs were lodged against some of the people arrested from the area.