Delhi Violence: Death Toll Mounts To 46 In Northeast Riots; 4 Bodies Recovered From Drains

Four bodies were recovered from the drains in Gokalpuri and Shiv Vihar areas on Sunday.

New Delhi: Security personnel patrol a violence-affected area of Northeast Delhi, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The number of those killed in the violent communal clashes that spiralled across the northeast region of New Delhi climbed to 46 on Monday. Officials aT Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital confirmed the death of 38 people, three deaths were confirmed by Lok Nayak Hospital, one by Jag Parvesh Chander Hospital and four by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital officials. Four bodies were recovered from the drains in Gokalpuri and Shiv Vihar areas on Sunday. Three bodies were fished out from two drains in Gokalpuri while one body was pulled out from a drain in Shiv Vihar, police said. Till Saturday, at least 42 people had lost their lives and more than 200 people have sustained serious injuries. Delhi has returned to normalcy after violence rocked several areas of northeast last week, with rioters resorting to arson and stone-pelting, though, security deployment continues at a large scale. On Sunday, rumours broke out about fresh tensions in Rohini, Uttam Nagar, Tilak Nagar and Khyala areas, which the Delhi Police quickly denied. The Deputy Commissioner of Police of West Delhi South-East also maintained that the situation in those areas is absolutely peaceful. The police have warned the rumour mongers for legal action and asked the citizens to stay alert. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it had shut down the entry and exit gates of seven metro stations but did not give any reason. The stations were later reopened. "A rumour has been noticed that there is some tension in Khyala-Raghubir Nagar area of West District. There is no truth behind it. All are requested to keep calm as the situation is absolutely normal & peaceful," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) West Deepak Purohit said. "There are some rumours regarding some communal tension in Tilak Nagar and Khyala areas. It is intimated that there is no tension in Tilak Nagar and Khyala and the whole west district area. Nothing to worry about," he added. Police said some "unsubstantiated reports" of tension in southeast and west districts were circulated on social media. "It is to reiterate that these are all rumours. Don't pay attention to such rumours. Delhi Police is closely monitoring accounts spreading rumours and taking action," they said, adding that rumours about tension in Dwarka and Badarpur areas were also "unsubstantiated". The DCPs of some police districts and station house officers (SHOs) of police stations took to Twitter to assure people that their areas were peaceful and normal.