A Delhi Police officer was killed and another injured today as violence broke out across multiple northeast Delhi neighbourhoods for a second time in less than 24 hours.
Protesters for and against the controversial citizenship law threw stones, set vehicles and shops ablaze and transformed parts of the national capital into a war zone, forcing the deployment of paramilitary forces and the banning of large gatherings in the area.
The violence comes hours before United States President Donald Trump is expected in Delhi as part of his two-day state visit. It also comes close on the heels of clashes near Jaffrabad on Sunday afternoon, where over 1,000 women have gathered since Saturday night in a peaceful protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA.
Attempting to restore order, Delhi Police resorted to firing tear gas shells in an effort to control the situation. Once the violence escalated, paramilitary forces were called in to restore peace. Delhi Metro has closed the Jaffrabad, Maujpur-Babarpur, Gokulpuri, Johri Enclave and Shiv Vihar stations. Large gatherings have been banned under Section 144.
United States President Donald Trump is due in Delhi at around 7.30 pm. On his first to India, Mr Trump is expected to raise the issue of religious freedom with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier today, addressing a massive crowd at the newly-built Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cricket Stadium, he described India as ‘a nation where people from all faiths – Hindus, Muslims… worship side by side”.
