Suspicion after provoked clash in Delhi Cops fired tear smoke shells to bring the situation under control

Clashes broke out on Sunday afternoon between two groups at Jaffrabad in northeast Delhi where a large number of people had gathered since Saturday night to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Police fired tear smoke shells to bring the situation under control. Eyewitnesses said the trouble started after local BJP leader Kapil Mishra led a pro-CAA rally near the site where mostly women and children were protesting against the amendment. Footage on social media showed the pro-CAA marchers raising provocative and inflammatory slogans. Later in the day, protests mirroring the Shaheen Bagh vigil mushroomed in the capital. Protests have started in Khureji Khaas in Karawal Nagar and Chandbagh in northeast Delhi and Hauz Rani in South Delhi, prompting the police to step up security, PTI reported. The Jaffrabad protesters have vowed not to end the agitation till the Centre revokes the CAA. A student at the Hauz Rani protest said the “police lathi-charged with little concern for women and children”. Mishra, who was banned from campaigning by the Election Commission during the recent Delhi Assembly elections for likening the polls to an India-versus-Pakistan contest, took out a procession demanding the road be cleared of protesters. One of the slogans heard, other than religious chants, was “Delhi mein dusra Shaheen Bagh nahin banne denge (We will not allow another Shaheen Bagh in Delhi)”.


The Supreme Court is scheduled to resume hearing on Monday on a plea to get vacated the Shaheen Bagh road where a unique vigil has been going on for over two months. Mishra’s overdrive at Jaffrabad has fuelled suspicion that attempts are being made to create an impression that such sites of protest could be potential flashpoints for violence. Ovais Sultan Khan, a minority rights activist, said although Mishra’s supporters started throwing stones, pelting in retaliation should have been avoided. “No matter what the provocation, they should not have done that. It will send a wrong signal, especially since the Supreme Court will hear the pleas against the protest at Shaheen Bagh tomorrow (Monday),” Khan said. Mishra later issued an ultimatum to Delhi police: “We will not do anything till Donald Trump leaves. But after Donald Trump leaves India, we will not even listen to you if the roads are not vacated. Get the Jaffrabad road cleared, we are requesting you, after that, we will have to hit the streets.” Trump is arriving in India on Monday on a two-day visit.