CAA protests: Cop among 2 killed in Delhi clashes
Two persons -- a civilian and a Delhi Police head constable -- were killed today and a senior police officer was among at least 50 injured as clashes over the amended citizenship law broke out in northeast Delhi's Jaffrabad and Maujpur localities.
Protesters torched two houses, a few shops and vehicles and hurled stones at each other as tensions ran high in the localities, forcing authorities to call in paramilitary personnel to restore order, reports our Delhi correspondent quoting police and medical personnel.
Ratan Lal, a head constable attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Gokulpuri area, was killed during the violence.
Additional Medical Superintendent of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital Rajesh Kalra said Lal was dead on arrival to the hospital this noon. He had succumbed to injuries sustained during the clashes, Kalra said.
Later, police also confirmed the death of a civilian who police said was hit on the head.
Police also banned the assembly of four or more people in the areas affected by violence in northeast Delhi.
Amit Sharma, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of Shahdara, and at least 36 other police personnel were injured while trying to quell the protests.
Sharma, who suffered injuries to his head and arm, was admitted to a hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a senior police official said, adding that the DCP's vehicle was also set on fire by protesters.
Violence between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was also reported in Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas.
The localities turned into a war zone with bricks and stones strewn all over the roads, hours before US President Donald Trump was scheduled to land in Delhi today on a two-day state visit.
This is the second day of clashes in Delhi.
There was heavy stone-pelting in Maujpur while police fired tear gas shells and also resorted to baton charges to disperse the violent protesters in Jaffrabad. Houses were vandalised and set on fire in Maujpur and Bhajanpura areas.
A protester was seen moving towards a Delhi Police personnel with a gun in his hand. He shot a few rounds in the air.
Indian Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in the evening that the situation in the violence-hit localities was under control.
Indian Home Ministry officials said the violence appeared to have been deliberately planned to coincide with the visit of Trump, who will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Indian government to restore law and order in the national capital and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to ensure the situation is brought under control.
Earlier on Saturday night, a group of women blocked a carriageway outside the Jaffrabad Metro Station in protest against the CAA.
Clashes had also erupted on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad over blocking of the road while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital including Hauz Rani.
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