By IANS
New Delhi : Thousands of people took to the streets and torched two police posts in south Delhi’s Jamia Nagar area after some policemen reportedly manhandled some people.
“We are ascertaining the situation and trying to restore peace in the area. We can’t say anything more at the moment,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Rajesh Kumar told IANS shortly after the violence broke out.
According to locals the violence erupted at around 8.45 p.m. in Batla House area after some policemen from the Okhla police station went to close a market. When the people protested, the policemen reportedly beat them mercilessly.
The locals also said the policemen also kicked a cart, where a copy of the Quran had been kept. A report about this spread in the area and fuelled the anger.
After these incidents in the market, a large crowd coming out of a mosque after evening prayers during Ramadan gathered outside the Jamia police post and protested the action of the policemen.
Police started a baton charge after the protestors turned violent and torched the police post. It was also reported that police fired in the air and hurled teargas shells to disperse the agitated mob.
The violence spread quickly to the adjoining area of Shaheen Bagh and protestors there torched another police post.