Streets strewn with stones, footwear after Delhi Gate violence

Stones, footwear and blood stains on streets were the remnants of a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which began peacefully at Jama Masjid but ended with arson two kilometres away near the Daryaganj police station on Friday.

Police used water cannon and resorted to lathicharge to disperse protestors as they hurled stones at security personnel.

Some people, who, police said, were "outsiders" set ablaze a car outside the police station near Delhi Gate and several vehicles were also damaged during the protest.

Throughout the day, announcements were made by a local mosque urging protesters to disperse but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

"You have registered your protest. Please go back to your homes," the mosque announced at regular intervals.

By evening, the protesters grew impatient and a clash ensued between them and security personnel, which saw the demonstrators hurling stones and police using water cannon and resorting to lathicharge to disperse them.

The situation grew tense when some of them burnt the car and vandalised several vehicles parked in the bylanes of Daryaganj.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is now conducting a flag march in the area.

Delhi Police PRO Mandeep Singh Randhawa, however, said, "We used mild force and water cannon but did not use tear gas and lathicharge."
He said, "Outsiders were involved in the violence that broke out after the protest. Outsiders were provoking them."
"We have detained many and their role will be probed. Several police personnel have been injured in the violence. Our Joint CP has also been injured by stone pelting. The crowd had come from outside," he said