CHANDIGARH: One person was killed and two were injured when the police fired at riotous mob on Feb 14 at Delhi and almost entire west side of Delhi as put under an indefinite curfew after incidents of violence and arson. The police opened fire at two places but casualties were reported from Lal Quan, The stone pelting mob tried to enter a place of worship. The police firing at Lal Quan and Chandani Mehal area came after the lathie charges and tear gas to failed disperse the mob. The police said that the situation was tense but under control. More than thirty vehicles, including buses of Delhi transport ‘corporation were damaged by the mob. A large number of persons Were arrested. The curfew bound ‘areas included Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Darya Ganj, and Lal Quan. The trouble started soon after the strike was declared at Jama Masjid, and groups of people tried to force the closure of the shops in response to the call for a protest day given by all India Majlis e Mushavareen against the ‘court order reopening a disputed place of worship in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. They claim that the place of worship was Masjid whereas Hindus say that originally it was a Ram Janam Bhumi Temple.
‘The police were apparently caught unawares when the mob started stopping buses in various areas and then went on the rampage. Incidents of violence were reported from areas with size able number of police stations in the congested ‘Delhi areas.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1986
