At least 34 people have lost their lives and over 200 injured in North East Delhi since Monday. (Photo: PTI)

Charred remains of cars, broken glasses, gutted shops and houses, wailing cries of family members and stones that litter the streets of North East Delhi are a reminder of the mayhem that raged in this area of India's national capital since Monday.

At least 34 people have died as on Thursday and more than 200 remain wounded. An uneasy air blankets worst-affected areas of Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh, Yamuna Vihar and others. Today, there is a heavy deployment of police in these riot-torn areas, along with the deployment of 45 companies of central paramilitary forces.

But these police forces were absent when these areas were burning in riots on Monday-when people were stoned, beaten up, maimed and killed; when shops were being torched with petrol bombs; when vehicles were being vandalised and burnt. This happened despite the fact that these areas are within a radius of just 12km from the headquarters of the Delhi Police.

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When India Today TV visited these areas and interacted with local residents, there was one thing they had to say in common: the Delhi Police did nothing when the riots were happening.

'COPS HID IN THE WASHROOM'

In Bhajanpura, a petrol pump was set on fire by the riotous mob after it looted all available cash. Its owner was somehow saved by his friend.

Speaking to India Today TV, they said about 10-20 people came all of a sudden and started looting the cash.

When asked about the size of the mob that attacked the petrol pump and what the police did, they said, "There were around 2,000 people in the mob but the police were totally absent. Four cops hid in the washroom. Others remained silent spectators."

The cops told us, do whatever you want to do and they (rioters) can also do whatever they want to do. Cops said they have no orders to take action. - Local residents of Bhajanpura

"Police kahin bhi najar nahi aayi...jo police wale the yahan par, who bhi chup chaap darshak ban kar khade rahe," they said.

Local residents told India Today TV that when they asked cops to take stop the rioters, the cops said ""they don't have any orders to act".

"Unka kehna tha jo tumhain karna hai tum karo, jo unhain karna hai wo wo karen. Police walon ne humain kaha ki unhain koi order nahi hai action lene ke liye (They (cops) told us, do whatever you want to do and they (rioters) can also do whatever they want to do. Cops said they have no orders to take action)."

Charred remains of vehicles that were set ablaze in North East Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

OUTNUMBERED COPS

In neighbouring Yamuna Vihar, a man whose restaurant was gutted, narrates a similar tale of police inaction.

"My shop was attacked on Monday. As the rioters came, we pulled down the restaurant shutters hoping it would be saved. But they started hurling petrol bombs. There were 40-50 policemen standing here," he said.

When asked if the cops were outnumbered, he said, "Yes. They were 40-50 and the rioters were around 2,000. We told them (cops) even if you are outnumbered you can at least fire in the air to deter the rioters."

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"Aap kuch toh kariye warna hamara sab kuch jal jayega (Please do something, else everything that we have will be burnt down)," he told cops.

"But they said they don't have any order. Jab tak order nahi aayega, hum kuch nahi kar sakte (We can't do anything until we receive orders)," he said.

'JANTA PISS RAHI HAI'

Asked if he would rebuild his shop, he broke down saying everything that the family had was destroyed.

"Kaise karen? Ab tak jo kuch bhi tha sab laga diya tha...mera loan tha, papa ka loan tha...bhai ka loan tha...sab laga diya ha. Jo unne karna tha, wo kar diya...kuch nahi kar sakte. Neta log hain...inka kya hoga...sab apni roti sek rahe hain...janta piss rahi hai (How will we rebuild the shop? We had put in whatever we had for this shop. I took a loan, so did my father and brother. They (rioters) have done whatever they wanted to. We can't do anything. What will happen? Politicians are serving their own interests and it is common people who are suffering)."

In neighbouring Chand Bagh, a man weeps looking at his gutted house and fruit shop. His family had been living here since 1982 and all that remains of it today are its charred remains.

We told cops to please do something, else everything that we have will be burnt down. But they said they can't do anything until they receive orders. - A Yamuna Vihar resident

He says for peace to prevail, the area needs more police deployment.

"Police were here that day too (when his house was burnt down) but not in as many numbers as was required. Police yahan thi...par police pathar fainkne walon ka saath de rahi thi (The cops were here but they were with the stone pelters)," he said.

A firefighter douses the burning wreckage of shops at a tyre market after they were set on fire by a mob in North East Delhi. (Photo: Reuters)

Showing us remains of four teargas shells that were lobbed into his house, he said, "Everything that I had, has been destroyed. The entire house is gutted."

Asked if he will start his fruit shop afresh, he said he will. "Sab loot liya sir...yahin rahoonga. Jana kahan? Netaon ne dillon ke andar bahut jyaada jahar bhar diya...kam hone ka naam nahi le raha (They have looted everything. I will remain here. Where can I go? Politicians have poisoned the hearts of people and that position isn't weakening)."

Meanwhile in Bhajanpura, when asked about the present law and order situation, Delhi Police special commissioner (law and order) SN Srivastava said, "The situation today is absolutely peaceful. We are fully satisfied that the situation is under control. We are trying to reinforce the confidence of the citizens that they don't have to worry. Police is here to help them."

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