NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah held a meeting on Tuesday with Delhi lieutenant governor Anil Baijal, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and representatives of key political parties to take stock of the situation in wake of violence in north-east Delhi and said a professional assessment pointed to the violent protests being “spontaneous”.At the meeting, also attended by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, Congress representative Subhash Chopra, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and senior home ministry officials, Shah suggested that the local peace committees comprising eminent citizens and elected representatives be reactivated and their meetings held to defuse the tension, quell rumours and ensure coordination with the Delhi Police.Shah advised leaders of political parties in Delhi to exercise restraint and refrain from making any provocative speeches. He suggested that all should rise above politics to jointly work towards restoring peace and order.Patnaik briefed the meeting on the violence witnessed on Monday in parts of Delhi as well as the current situation. Shah said professional assessment was that the violent protests were spontaneous. According to intelligence sources, the violence broke out during clashes between anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and pro-CAA groups in north-east Delhi, which is witnessing 8 of the 19 ongoing anti-CAA sit-in protests across the capital. The immediate trigger, it is believed, was the anti-CAA dharna that led to blocking of a road in Jafrabad.A source said police personnel on the ground were heavily outnumbered by the clashing anti-CAA and pro-CAA groups, giving leeway to anti-social elements among the warring sides to indulge in stone-pelting, arson and even firing with illegal weapons. “The clashes took a communal colour. Police chose to act with restraint, mindful of the high casualties that any use of force in the densely populated ghettos would cause, and the subsequent ripple-effect this may have in other parts of the country witnessing anti-CAA protests,” said an officer. At least 13 people, including a head constable, have died and many others, including police personnel, injured.Incidentally, the “spontaneous” assessment cited by Shah runs contrary to MoS (home) G Kishan Reddy’s claims — made to ANI on Monday and in a tweet the later — that the violent protests were a “conspiracy” to create chaos in Delhi and “show our country in poor light” at a time when US President Donald Trump was visiting.A source told TOI there was no prior intelligence about a possible communal flare-up.The meeting, chaired by Shah, was told that adequate police deployment in violence-prone areas was being ensured and reinforcements sent where required. Special officers would be deployed in the vulnerable areas. The roads were also being cleared.Shah reassured the state government and political representatives of Delhi that the city police was doing its job, though while exercising restraint. He cautioned against unwarranted criticism of the Delhi Police saying it could negatively impact its morale and noted that it was adequately empowered to decide on the amount of force needed to defuse tension.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kejriwal said all parties are concerned over the law and order disturbances in the capital. “We all want violence to stop. Nobody is benefiting from this violence,” he noted. Calling the meeting “very positive”, Kejriwal said everybody resolved to make all possible efforts to restore order and peace in Delhi.Meanwhile, Shah has cancelled his visit to Kerala.