Smoke billowed in the air and mobs roamed unchecked through the streets, burning shops, pelting stones and threatening locals, as fresh violence tore through northeast Delhi, killing six more people on Tuesday and taking the toll in the communal clashes over the amended citizenship law to 13. Over 130 civilians are said to be injured during the clashes.
The authorities have also added that as many as 56 cops were also injured. As per recent update, curfew has been imposed in violence-hit areas including Maujpur, Jafrabad, Chand Bagh and Karawal Nagar.
Many of those injured sustained bullet injuries. It was also reported that some journalists were also critically injured as they were beaten and punched by rioters in northeast Delhi. One journalist also sustained bullet injury. Even reporting team of ABP News was attacked by miscreants in Delhi's area of Karawal Nagar.
WATCH REPORT | Delhi: Shoot At Site Ordered Issued In Curfew Imposed Areas
Private and government schools in violence affected North East Delhi will continue to be closed on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia informed on Twitter.
As tension smouldered in the national capital's northeast and the sun set over another restive day, violence cut a swathe through several localities, including Chand Bagh and Bhajanpura, with stones and other missiles hurled and shops set ablaze.
It is also being said that journalists covering the violence are heckled and forced to delete pictures or videos.
Three districts in northeast Delhi were put on high alert on Tuesday after the tension prevailing there since the last three days intensified. A top official from Delhi Police Headquarters told IANS: "Since section 144 imposed in northeast Delhi failed to control the situation, we have decided to put three districts on high alert. Security has been beefed up in northeast as well as east Delhi and Shahdara district."
A Delhi police DCP said now the reserve police force in the police stations is also there to support us along with the paramilitary forces. However, around 50 armed policemen are still in the police stations so that the miscreants don't target the police stations.
WATCH REPORT | Delhi's Violence: Death Toll Rises To 9; Police Hold Flag-March In Khajuri
The Maujpur-Babarpur metro station has become a battle ground with rival groups pelting each other with stones and throwing petrol bombs with bullets being fired intermittently. As the day wore on, the ambulances were frequently seen transporting the injured.
Helmets are in huge demand as stone pelting from both sides is incessant. Armed with iron and wooden rods, the rioters let out a "war cry" when a projectile hits someone in the rival camp. Policemen continue to fire tear gas shells even as rioters cover their faces with wet handkerchiefs.
Glass bottles, a piece of cloth and petrol are just the things they need to make a petrol bomb. Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar, who is leading his force, told IANS, "The situation is tense. We are trying to bring it under control."
ALSO WATCH | Delhi: Ground Report On How Mob Set Parts Of Capital Ablaze
On Tuesday afternoon, stone-throwing was reported from Kardampuri area near the Maujpur metro station area. Locals claimed that four bullets were fired by an unidentified person in which a person was injured and taken to a hospital.
At Maujpur metro station, a large number of people carrying the Tricolour and sticks have gathered to protest against those sitting near the Jaffarabad metro station over the controversial CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protest over the CAA and the NRC started on Saturday night when women protesters staged a sit-in near the metro station.
(With inputs from agencies)