New Delhi: Tension prevailed in Maujpur area of northeast Delhi on Monday afternoon as another bout of stone-pelting between pro- and anti-CAA groups was reported, with people running helter-skelter even as police conducted flag marches to bring the situation under control.
The latest incident of stone-pelting came after eyewitnesses earlier said that there was stone-pelting from the crematorium side in the area.
A Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal was killed and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara, Amit Sharma was injured during clashes, a senior officer said.
Ratan was attached to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gokulpuri, he said.
Including Sharma, several police personnel have been injured in the clashes. Sharma suffered injuries to his head and hand. He was hospitalised and is doing fine, he said.
Several vehicles, shops and houses were torched on Monday, a day after clashes broke out between those against and for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
The Delhi Metro, meanwhile, has announced the closure of entrance and exit gates of the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station. In wake of the violence that erupted during clashes, the Delhi Metro shut five stations on its Pink Line.
"Entry & exit gates of Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar are closed. Trains will terminate at Welcome metro station," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) tweeted.
The DMRC had earlier shut down Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur metro due to the ongoing protests against the amended law.
Protests and rallies by anti- and pro-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) groups rocked the area on Sunday, with pro-CAA groups rallying at the Maujpur-Babarpur metro station, and Maujpur chowk while the anti-CAA protesters held fort in Kabir Nagar and Jaffarabad areas.
Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, eastern range, told mediapersons that the situation remained tense and the police was monitoring the situation.
Adequate number of police was deployed after security forces were also pelted with stones during the violence.
Meanwhile, rumours were rife amid reports that BJP leader Kapil Mishra and his supporters came under attack by stone-pelters, and some reports said trains were also vandalized.
The people have questioned the role of police, alleging it remained mute spectator to the clashes and did nothing to check the violence.
According to reports, a CRPF team has been deployed in the surrounding areas as the situation seemed to deteriorate.
The tension was brewing in eastern Delhi since Saturday night following the blockade of a road in Jaffrabad by anti-CAA protesters in response to a call for bandh on Sunday by Chandrashekhar Azad of the Bhim Army.
After violence erupted in northeast Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said he has spoken to Lt Governor Anil Baijal who assured that more police personnel are being sent to the affected areas.
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said violence by anyone will not be tolerated.
"I just spoke to the LG. He has assured that more police forces are being sent. Violence will not be tolerated by anyone. I request people to maintain peace. No solution will come out of violence," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
In another tweet, he said, "The death of a head constable is very sad. He was also one of us. Please give up violence. Nobody benefits from violence. All problems will be solved peacefully, he said in another tweet.
Violence was also reported in northeast Delhi's Chandbagh and Bhajanpura areas.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Baijal to restore law and order in the wake of the violence.
"Very distressing news regarding disturbance of peace and harmony in parts of Delhi coming in.
"I sincerely urge Hon'ble LG n Hon'ble Union Home Minister to restore law and order n ensure that peace and harmony is maintained. Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate flagrations (sic)," Kejriwal said in his earlier tweet.
Baijal instructed Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to maintain law and order in the city.
"Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.
According to Delhi Police, total 4 people (3 civilians & 1 police head constable) have lost their lives today in clashes in North-East Delhi
(With Agency Inputs)