The death toll from four straight days of clashes over the citizenship law in India’s national capital Delhi has reached 32 and injuring over 200 people as the city’s northeast remains on the edge.
Reports of arson and unrest emerged from northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura, Maujpur and Karawal Nagar areas late on Wednesday, hours after Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited violence-affected areas of the national capital to offer personal guarantees that the government would restore peace, reports NDTV.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made his first public statement, calling for "peace and brotherhood."
Home Minister Amit Shah, who came under fire for failing to control the violence, has held multiple review meetings following the violence.
Delhi Police has filed 18 FIRs and arrested 106 people in connection with the violence, which they say is now under control, added the report.
Meanwhile, Delhi High Court has urged police to file FIRs against those making hateful and inflammatory speeches.
The court's observation came after speeches made by four BJP leaders, including Union Minister Anurag Thakur and local leader Kapil Mishra (whose rally in northeast Delhi on Sunday afternoon has been accused of inciting violence), were played in open court, added NDTV.
Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has been given until Thursday to review videos of the speeches and take a "conscious decision."
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also issued a call for peace on Wednesday, said the report.
Addressing the Assembly, Kejriwal said neither Hindus nor Muslims would benefit from the violence and said: "Delhi now has two options: Either people can come together and help make the situation better or they can hit and kill one another."
He also demanded the army to be called in, something the Indian Home Ministry has so far refused to do and held outsiders and political elements responsible for the violence.
Meanwhile, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi launched a broadside at Amit Shah with demanding he take responsibility and resign. She also took aim at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing both governments of not taking adequate steps to control the situation when it broke on Sunday, the report added.
The violence, which has left several neighbourhoods looking like war zones, also led to the postponement of CBSE board exams for a second straight day. Five exams - two for Class X and three for Class XII - had been deferred on Tuesday after appeals by students.
