Delhi violence death toll rises to 24

Tension continues to simmer in and around northeast Delhi for the fourth consecutive day as the death toll in the clashes around the Citizenship Amendment Act rose to 24. Over 180 people have been injured.

In a late night development, the Delhi High Court ordered the Delhi Police to ensure safe passage of about 22 riot victims stuck in a “fairly small” hospital in northeast Delhi to a government hospital with better facilities. The court also ordered to ensure that the victims received immediate emergency treatment.

The issue of violence in the national capital did not figure in the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said.

Mr. Javadekar answered in the negative when asked at a media briefing whether the violence in North East Delhi, which has claimed 24 lives so far, figured in the Cabinet meeting.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval are keeping an eye on the situation.

Two deaths were recorded at LNJP Hospital on Wednesday taking the count of people who have died in the northeast Delhi violence to 24, authorities said.

These were the first cases of casualty reported at LNJP Hospital, which has been receiving a number of patients since the violence broke out Monday evening.

“One person was brought dead, while another died during treatment,” Medical Superintendent of LNJP Hospital Kishore Singh said.

Earlier, the toll stood at 22, all fatalities being recorded at GTB Hospital

The Delhi Police has arrested 106 people for their alleged involvement in the northeast Delhi violence and registered 18 FIRs, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

“No untoward incident was reported on Wednesday and PCR calls from northeast Delhi have reduced,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mandeep Singh Randhawa told reporters.

Police also released two helpline numbers - 011-22829334, 22829335 - for people to reach out during distress.

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth has lashed out at the central government over the violence in Delhi, saying the riots should have been dealt with an iron fist.

The actor also opined that protests should not turn violent and recalled his earlier statement that he will stand by Muslims if they were affected by the amended citizenship law.

“Definitely it is Central government’s intelligence failure. I strongly condemn the Central government,” he told reporters in Chennai.

The actor also rued that some sections of media and political observers were linking him with the BJP.

Source: Press Trust of India