Situation in Riot-Hit Northeast Delhi ‘Under Control’: NSA Doval

NSA Doval said the situation in the violence-hit northeast Delhi was under control & the police was doing their job.

Ajit Doval visiting the violence-hit areas of Northeast Delhi.

(Photo: PTI)

The situation in the violence-hit northeast Delhi was under control and the police was doing their job, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said after he visited the affected areas and interacted with locals on Wednesday, 26 February.

After his visit, NSA Doval briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the prevailing situation in areas where communal violence claimed at least 22 lives, officials said. Doval met Shah at the latter's North Block office and also discussed the steps taken to restore normalcy in clash-hit areas.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar and Commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Patnaik attended the meeting.

This was the NSA's second visit to affected localities in less than 24 hours.

He was greeted warmly at some places, but at one location, two agitated locals complained about the violence.

At Jafrabad, a young girl walked up to him and said that she did not feel safe in the area. She also blamed the police for "inaction" when rioters went on a rampage.

To her, he said, “I give you my word. Everyone is safe here.” He also asked police personnel to ensure that the girl reaches home safely.

‘Police is Doing their Job’

An agitated elderly man from the area said, “Terrorism is being bred in Yamuna Vihar. Muslims are being killed here. But we have ensured the safety of the area. We said we will not commit any atrocities against Hindus.”

“People have a sense of unity among them, there is no enmity. A few criminals do things like this, people are trying to isolate them. Police is here and doing its work,” he said.

Doval said he was there as per the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

“The situation is under control and people are satisfied. We have confidence in law enforcement agencies. Police is doing their job and is alert,” he told reporters.

“Police is working hard. Only some criminals were involved in this. One should try resolving these issues and not increasing them. There were incidents earlier but today it is calm. Locals want peace. We have full faith that there will be peace.”

NSA Ajit Doval told reporters

"If God wills, there will be peace and harmony here (Inshallah yahan par bilkul aman hoga)," he said.

Earlier, Doval, who has been tasked with checking the violence, held a meeting with the top brass of the Delhi Police at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) in Seelampur.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mandeep Singh Randhawa, newly-appointed special CP SN Shrivastava, Special CP (Law and Order) Satisha Golcha and DCP of northeast Delhi Ved Prakash Arya were among those present in the meeting that lasted just over 30 minutes.

Jafrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar are among the areas affected by the clashes.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)