Delhi riots: New video shows mob cornered cops, pelted stones
At the peak of last week's violence in Northeast Delhi's Chand Bagh area, the Delhi Police found itself helpless, a new video shows. A mob of hundreds chased the personnel on February 24 and pelted stones. In a bid to save themselves, the cops remained stationed on one corner of the road, which was blocked by a divider. But the mob attacked them, nevertheless.
Northeast Delhi saw one of the worst communal clashes
The clip appears to have been shot on a mobile and emerged only now, days after the violence ended. Chand Bagh along with other areas like Jafrabad, Maujpur, and Shiv Vihar, witnessed one of the worst communal clashes in Delhi's history after a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) turned violent. In the Hindu-Muslim riots, nearly 50 were killed, and hundreds suffered injuries.
Cops were attacked with sticks, stones; took cover behind trees
In the new video, dozens of rioters can be seen closing in on a group of policemen from both sides of the road. The mob attacked the police with sticks and stones. A couple of cops, apparently anticipating a bigger mob, decided to jump to the other side and took cover behind some trees. Soon, the rioters spotted them and pelted stones.
Cops faced the 'anger' of rioters
A head constable died in the violence
Though the video isn't clear enough to pinpoint the rioters, head constable Ratan Lal was present in the same area that day. Lal lost his life and DCP Amit Sharma suffered injuries. The head constable's autopsy revealed he died of gunshots. A report in India Today said the bullet entered his body through the left shoulder and went to the right one.
Police wanted to talk to protesters, were outnumbered
Separately, police personnel were seen taking Sharma to a safe spot. The cops had apparently gone to the area to hold talks with CAA protesters but the situation worsened and they found themselves outnumbered. Recalling the horror, ACP Kumar later said they were in dozens and the rioters in thousands. They didn't want to fire bullets as women were also participants, he added.
Delhi Police was caught off-guard, didn't handle riots well
Delhi Police's choice of handling the carnage got it criticism, but it said it tried to control it to the best of its ability. The cops' behavior showed they had little idea about the preparedness of the mob. After the dust settled, the force, considered one of the best in the nation, asked eye-witnesses to record statements and share evidence.
The witness' confidentiality will be maintained: Delhi Police
"All those who are witnesses to the incidents, especially media persons, or have any information about the incidents or have captured any activity on their mobile phones or camera, are hereby requested to come forward and give their statements, footage, and pictures," Delhi Police said last week.
