Trilok

The Home ministry has asked the Delhi Police to submit a detailed report into the clashes The Home ministry has asked the Delhi Police to submit a detailed report into the clashes

The Delhi Police were caught napping as communal unrest erupted in at least three locations in the national Capital, leading to violent clashes in Trilokpuri area, even though an alert issued this week by the Home Ministry had warned of the possibility of such tensions during the festive season.

The Home Ministry is miffed that the police did not react in time and the situation went out of control in Trilokpuri despite the warning issued on October 20.

Sources said Delhi Police were clearly not prepared and the tensions could have been handled if they had acted in time. The Home Ministry has asked Delhi Police for a detailed report on the incidents that have occurred in the capital since Thursday. Violent clashes and tensions were reported from Trilokpuri in East Delhi, which was the worst affected area, Majnu ka Tila in North Delhi and Samaipur Badli in Outer District.

The Home Ministry had said in its alert that there had been communal tensions during festivals in the past few months and, keeping this in mind, requisite security arrangements should be made at places of worship and sensitive areas to prevent any disturbance. Something similar unfolded in Trilokpuri area, where there was a dispute over a religious congregation on the eve of Diwali. Sources this snowballed into a communal confrontation, which led to violence when the local police failed to react promptly.

The Centre had specifically asked authorities in Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Vadodara to remain alert against any communal tensions but Delhi Police were caught unawares, officials said.

"Just as expected, a trivial issue which could have been resolved locally got escalated and the situation went out of hand. A little pro-activeness on the part of the local police would have averted this situation. It seems the warning was taken lightly," an MHA official said.

"We have asked for a report and if any laxity is found, action will be taken against police officials," the official added.

The Centre had warned states of communal tension during the festive season since the communal atmosphere in some states has been "strained" over the last few months. It had asked state governments to maintain extra vigil in communally sensitive areas. The alert sent to state governments mentioned that provocative material on social media could be used to spark off communal unrest.

"Since the Diwali/Kali Puja will be celebrated on Oct 23 and would attract huge crowd, issues like bursting of fire crackers, use of loudspeakers, raising of provocative slogans by members of one community, forcible collection of donations, installation of idols at disputed places, acts of misbehaviour and eveteasing could lead to communal tension," the advisory stated.