Delhi riots: 106 arrested, death toll climbs to 27

New Delhi: The death toll in northeast Delhi communal violence over the amended citizenship law rose to 27 on Wednesday, as police struggled to check the rioters who ran amok on streets, burning and looting shops, pelting stones and thrashing people.

The Delhi Police has arrested 106 people, registered 18 FIRs in connection with violence in North East Delhi.

Meanwhile, an Intelligence Bureau staffer was on Wednesday found dead in northeast Delhi's riot-hit Chand Bagh area, officials said.

Ankit Sharma, who lived in Chand Bagh, may have been killed in stone pelting, they said. His body has been taken to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital for an autopsy.

A compensation of Rs 2 lakh will be paid to the next of kin of the people who have died in the communal violence in northeast Delhi. Persons who have been seriously injured will be given a relief amount of Rs 50,000, senior officials said.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said his government would give a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of Head Constable Ratan Lal who was killed in the violence.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the prevailing situation after his visit to the riot-affected areas of the national capital. This was the NSA's second visit to the violence-hit localities in less than 24 hours.

The NSA briefed the home minister about the current law and order situation in North East Delhi and steps taken to bring back normalcy there, a home ministry official said.

At least 24 people were killed and over 200 injured in communal violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi over the past three days.

Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar are among the areas mainly affected by the riots.

The violence, which started on Sunday after anti-CAA protests blocked a road outside Jaffrabad Metro station and BJP leader Kapil Mishra called a gathering in favour of CAA, intensified on Tuesday, despite shored up security in the city in view of US President Donald Trump's visit.

CBSE Class 12 exam postponed in NE Delhi

The CBSE Class 12 English exam on Thursday has been postponed in the northeast and parts of east Delhi in view of the turbulent situation due to violence, according to officials.

"Considering request of Delhi government and to avoid inconvenience to students, staff and parents, the board has decided to postpone the exam for class 12 in North East Part of Delhi," CBSE Secretary Anurag Tripathi said.

The exam has been postponed at 73 centres in northeast Delhi and seven centres in east Delhi.

"However, the exam in rest parts of Delhi shall be conducted as per scheduled. The next date of exam for affected students will be notified shortly," the official said.

PM appeals for peace

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first reaction to incidents of violence in Delhi, appealed for peace and brotherhood, and said he has held an extensive review of the prevailing situation in various parts of the national capital.

He also said it was important that calm and normalcy was restored at the earliest.

"Peace and harmony are central to our ethos. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times," Modi tweeted.

Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the Army should be called in as police is unable to control the situation despite all its efforts following the violence in parts of northeast Delhi.

The chief minister said the situation has become "alarming", adding that he is writing to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"I have been in touch with large no. of people whole nite (night). Situation alarming. Police, despite all its efforts, unable to control situation and instil confidence (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

"Army shud (should) be called in and curfew imposed in rest of affected areas immediately. Am writing to Hon'ble HM to this effect," he added.

Locals in Maujpur area had claimed on Tuesday that announcements were being made by police on loudspeakers about shoot-at-sight orders, but Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Ved Prakash Surya denied this.

Delhi HC's midnight hearing

In a midnight hearing, the Delhi High Court directed police to ensure safe passage to government hospitals and emergency treatment for those injured in the communal violence erupted in northeast Delhi over the amended citizenship law.

The court held a special hearing, which started at 12:30 am, at the residence of Justice S Muralidhar after receiving a call from an advocate explaining the dire circumstances under which the victims were unable to be removed from a small hospital to the GTB Hospital.

A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani directed the Delhi Police to ensure safe passage of the injured victims by deploying all resources at its command and on the strength of this order as well as to make sure they receive immediate emergency treatment if not at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital then at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) or Maulana Azad or any other hospital.

UN chief Antonio Guterres is closely following the situation in New Delhi and stresses that demonstrators should be allowed to protest peacefully and security forces should show restraint, his spokesperson said.

(With inputs from PTI.)