Delhi: Situation normal, 32 held for violence

New Delhi, Sept 21: Thirty-two people have been arrested by the police in connection with yesterday's rioting in Seelampur area of North-East Delhi, the centre of largescale and violent protests against the Delhi government's sealing drive.

Of more than 60 persons detained yesterday, 32 have been arrested on minor charges, the police said today.

''Presently minor charges have been slapped on them and investigations are continuing to verify other facts,'' said an officer at the Seelampur police station.

Even as two companies of the Border Security Force (BSF) have been deployed in Seelampur area to keep the situation under control, Delhi Police announced conducting of an enquiry by the Crime Branch into yesterday's firing by the police on the violent mob which resulted in the death of four persons.

Also, the Delhi government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased in yesterday's violence.

While family members of the adults killed would get Rs two lakh, those of minors would get Rs one lakh. The injured would get Rs 50,000.

Meanwhile, situation in the area was fast returning to normal with shops open and traffic on roads back to normal.

The roads have been cleared of debris from stone-pelting and rubble of cement road dividers. Besides this, burnt vehicles have been removed and broken street lights were being replaced.

A senior police official of North-East district said yesterday the situation worsened after a Bangladeshi fired at the police with a country-made pistol.

''We are trying to identify him,'' he said.

Small arms are easily available in the area due to easy access to Western Uttar Pradesh belt where these small weapons were readily available, he added.

Police today confirmed that the toll in yesterday's firing had reached four.

''Among the deceased are 16-year-old Mohammad Ashraf, a Class VII student, Qasim (16), Wasif (27), a rickshaw puller from Purulia in West Bengal and one more person who has yet to be identified,'' said Additional Commissioner Dependra Pathak.

Agitators had fought pitched battles with the police at several places in the Capital yesterday, with the worst reported in Seelampur, where police resorted to firing after lathicharge and tear gas shells failed to disperse the mob.

UNI

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