CAA violence: Delhi Police issue shoot-at-sight order as death toll reaches 17

Fresh violence over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act wracked northeast Delhi again, killing at least eight more people on Tuesday, taking the total number of deaths to 17. Violence cut a swathe through several localities, including Chand Bagh and Bhajanpura, with stones and other missiles hurled and shops set ablaze.

The Delhi Police have issued a shoot-at-sight order in the riot-hit areas. In the announcement, the police said that a curfew has been imposed in four areas of the northeast district of Delhi.

Police said 11 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence and that the force is responding to incidents involving anti-social elements.

“Situation in northeast Delhi is under control, even as several parts of the area continued to reel under violence,” said Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa. He said only one person has been arrested though over 20 people have been detained.

Though the violence continued unabated, police officials said the situation was under control and flag marches were conducted in Bhajanpura, Khajuri Khas and other places. Sixty-seven companies of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the area.

Several media persons have also been injured as they were targetted by the mob while reporting from the area.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said all private and government schools in violence affected northeast Delhi will continue to be closed on Wednesday. Sisodia, who is also the education minister of Delhi, said all internal examinations have been postponed by schools.

The CBSE has postponed Class 10, 12 exams in northeast Delhi scheduled on Wednesday. However, exams will be held in the remaining areas as per schedule.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who held a meeting with senior officials and MLAs of all parties to discuss the situation, asked people to refrain from violence and said all issues can be dealt with through dialogue.