18 dead in Delhi violence;Shah, Doval chair emergency meetings

The number of deaths in Northeast Delhi violence has risen to 18, according to news agency ANI. An official from Delhi’s Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital said on Wednesday morning that five more people were brought dead to the hospital, reported ANI. More than 250 people are injured.

Violence erupted again on Tuesday and spread to other nearby localities, just kilometres away from where US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for talks.

Huge clouds of smoke was seen billowing from a tyre market that had been set ablaze. 

The Centre and Delhi administration sprung into action and a series of meetings were held to find a solution to end the violence. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired three review meetings in 24 hours and directed the Delhi Police to take quick action. He also asked for more police force to be deployed.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and Delhi Police chief Amulya Patnaik visited the office of North-east DCP Ved Prakash Surya in Seelampur for a meeting late on Tuesday night. Doval, accompanied by Patnaik and other senior officials visited Maujpur, Jafarabad, Gokulpuri and Bhajanpura to conduct a first-hand review of the situation.

ANI reported that Doval will be closely overseeing the police efforts to restore peace in Delhi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)