Hauz Qazi Incident: 17 Arrested, Shah Meets Delhi Police Chief

Tensions prevailed in the Hauz Qazi on the night of 30 June after a fight over parking took a communal turn.

A fight over a parking issue led to the purported vandalism of a religious place near Chandni Chowk on Sunday, 30 June. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Five more people were arrested on Saturday, 6 July, in connection with the Hauz Qazi incident in which a temple was vandalised on 30 June, reported ANI. So far 17 people have been arrested. The age of one accused is currently being verified.

Earlier on 3 July, Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik met Home Minister Amit Shah over the incident in Chandni Chowk, where a clash had broken out between two groups over a parking issue and a temple was vandalised on the night of 30 June.

Speaking after meeting with the Home Minister, Patnaik said,

“We had a general briefing on the incident and we told him that the situation is almost normal in the area. The briefing was about that. General action has been taken, legal action will also be taken... Four people have been arrested.”

Amulya Patnaik, Delhi Police Commissioner

Patnaik added that the CCTV footage is also being analysed and an investigation is underway.

Tensions prevailed in the Hauz Qazi area on the night of 30 June after a fight over parking of a scooter took a communal turn. Following an argument, a temple in the locality was vandalised.

Union Minister and Chandni Chowk MP Harsh Vardhan had visited the area on Tuesday, 2 June, saying that the “culprits” will be arrested and punished.

“It is very unfortunate and painful. The kind of thing done to the temple is unforgivable. I have been told that police is already in action and culprits will be arrested and punished. I appeal to the people to maintain harmony,” he had said.

PIL in Delhi HC Seeks SIT Probe Into Attack on Temple

Meanwhile, a PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, 3 July, seeking an SIT probe into the alleged conspiracy behind the attack on the temple in the Chandni Chowk area.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), duly monitored by the court, must investigate the attack on the Durga Temple and identify the real perpetrators of the crime, the petition said.

The petitioner, advocate Alakh Alok Shrivastava, also prayed for initiation of stringent action and formulation of suitable guidelines to avoid such attacks on other places of worship in the future, considering the wider ramifications of such acts in disrupting communal harmony and peace in society.

‘Does BJP Not Care for Sentiments of Majority?’

Earlier on Wednesday, the Congress had asked if the BJP does not care about the sentiments of the majority community, alleging that Home Minister Amit Shah and the Delhi Police had taken no action even two days after a temple in the capital was vandalised.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)