Chandni Chowk's temple vandalized: Amit Shah summons Delhi Police chief
What's the story
After a 100-year-old temple was vandalized in Delhi's Chandni Chowk area on Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah summoned Delhi Police Chief Amulya Patnaik on Wednesday. In the meeting, Shah reportedly reprimanded Patnaik. The desecration of the temple sparked communal tensions in the area, and police forces were deployed. Moreover, four people have also been arrested. Read on for more details.
Series of events
Context: Fight over parking spot turned violent, temple was attacked
The incident took place in Hauz Qazi area, which is bang in the middle of congested Chandni Chowk. Reportedly, a 20-year-old named Aas Mohammad decided to park his two-wheeler in front of a building. The resident Sanjeev Gupta raised an objection and soon an argument broke out. The altercation turned violent in no time and subsequently idols of deities were broken.
Versions
Two different versions of the story are doing rounds
There are two versions of the story. According to Sanjeev's family, Mohammad was miffed after he didn't get parking space. He then brought some people, who were allegedly drunk, and they beat Sanjeev. But a local named Aqib Hassan told PTI that Sanjeev was the one who thrashed Mohammad. He claimed Sanjeev and his accomplice took Mohammad inside the building and beat him up.
Temple desecrated
Mob barged into temple, broke idols, burnt curtains
After Sanjeev and Mohammad fought, police took them away. Around the same time, a mob vandalized the temple which led to tensions. "They broke the idols of the deities and burnt the curtains of the temple. I don't want anything but that they should be punished," said Anil Kumar Pandey, the priest of the temple. Three separate cases have been lodged.
Information
Understanding why three FIRs were lodged
Mohammad and Sanjeev filed tit-for-tat FIRs against one another. The third FIR was registered in connection to vandalizing the temple and rioting. The incident turned political after Congress fired fresh salvo at BJP and asked why no action was taken.
Twitter Post
Does BJP not care about Hindus, asked Abhishek Manu Singhvi
Day 2 of the temple incident and no action yet by Home Minister, Delhi Police under the BJP rules Centre. We know the ruling party doesn't care about minorities but does it also not care for the sentiments of majority?
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) July 3, 2019
Statement
Situation is under control, Patnaik told Shah in meeting
About his meeting with Shah, Patnaik said, "It was a general briefing about the Hauz Qazi incident and how the situation is. The situation is well under control now." He said four people have been arrested and they can't escape justice. "These are a group of criminals... we are analyzing the CCTV footage and all those involved will face action," Patnaik told media.
Meeting
Last evening, members of both communities met to ease tensions
Tensions prevailed in the area on Tuesday as well, with forces being at toes to prevent any untoward incident. Last evening, members of both communities met in police's presence to iron out differences. "We have spoken to each other on the issue and decided that the 'aman committee' (peace committee) would bear the expenses to renovate the vandalized temple," said Jamshed Siddiqui.
Quote
We will restore peace in the area, said local
"People from both communities are living here happily for many decades. The market will be opened on Wednesday and the locals will bring back peace with the help of each other," said a local named Bitto, who was also present at the meeting.
PIL
Meanwhile, PIL has been filed in Delhi HC demanding investigation
In the wake of the condemnable incident, advocate Alakh Alok Shrivastava filed a PIL in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday. He demanded that the case should be probed by court-monitored SIT. He also said that suitable guidelines should be formulated to avoid such attacks on religious places in the future. He underlined these attacks have wide ramifications on communal harmony.