Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Asthana later in the evening and called for stern action against those involved in the violence, according to people aware of the development.
The police chief said 23 people were arrested, including a man, identified as Sonu alias Yunus, who allegedly opened fire during the clashes after a video of the incident was widely shared on social media. “We are not going to spare any accused, having direct or indirect links with the incident and there will be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, faith and association,” Asthana told reporters.
Jahangirpuri was tense but largely peaceful on Monday.
“On Monday morning, when a police team went to search for Sonu and examine his family members, two stones were thrown at them. The situation was brought under control and legal action has been taken,” deputy commissioner of police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said.
Police also registered a case under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code against the organisers for carrying out a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday evening without permission.
Clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim groups during the religious procession on Saturday, days after similar violence in six states. The incident took place when a procession of 350-400 people to mark Hanuman Jayanti was crossing Jahangirpuri’s C block, where a scuffle first broke out and then escalated into stone pelting. Shots were also fired.
The communal clash in Jahangirpuri is the first major such incident since the 2020 Delhi riots in which 53 people died and 619 were injured.
A central government official said the home ministry will continue to assess the situation. The Delhi Police have already briefed the ministry about the investigation carried out so far, the official added.
Addressing a media briefing earlier in the day, Asthana denied claims that the clashes broke out after attempts were made to hoist saffron flags at a mosque during the Hanuman Jayanti procession. “No, there was no attempt to hoist any saffron flag,” he said.
Some politicians and social media users earlier alleged that people tried to hoist a flag on a local mosque in Jahangirpuri which led to stone pelting and violence.
Police on Monday cordoned off the Muslim-dominated C Block of Jahangirpuri to ensure no untoward incident took place. While a few shops opened on the main street in the area, many remained closed amid an uneasy calm.
“Women in the area are especially scared to go to the main road even as they come out of the houses within their street limits,” said G Block resident Savitri.
The investigation into the clashes has been handed over to the Crime Branch and 14 teams have been formed to take it forward, Asthana said, adding that four forensics teams also visited the spot to gather evidence. The probe will cover all angles through the analysis of CCTV footage and digital inputs, he said.
Rangnani, meanwhile, said that while the police granted permission for two Hanuman Jayanti processions on Saturday morning and afternoon, no such approval was given for a third procession in the evening. The clashes broke out near Jama Masjid in Jahangirpuri after the third procession.
