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On Eve Of Trump's Delhi Visit, Cop Killed As Hundreds Clash Over CAA, DCP Injured

The Delhi Police said that a head constable was killed during clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in northeast Delhi on Monday.

Head Constable Ratan Lal, posted at ACP Gokalpuri office, was deployed in Maujpur area where protestors allegedly torched several houses, shops and a fire tender among other vehicles in a clash between pro-CAA and anti-CAA groups.

The constable was injured in stone-pelting, police said, and died of his injuries in hospital.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Shahdara, Amit Sharma was also injured during the clashes, a senior official said. Sharma suffered injuries to his head and hand. He has been hospitalised and is doing fine, the official added. The DCP's car was also allegedly set afire.

Police fire teargas shells and lathi-charged the crowd to disperse the protestors. The clashes are taking place a day ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi where a dinner banquet is being hosted in his honour on Tuesday.

Reports say that Section 144 prohibiting unlawful assembly has been imposed in 10 localities of northeast Delhi.

"Some incidents of violence and arson have been reported in areas of North East District, particularly in the areas of Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chand Bagh and Dayalpur.

"It is appealed to the people of Delhi and particularly to the North East District to maintain peace and harmony and not to believe in any rumours. It is also appealed to the media not to circulate any disturbing pictures which may further aggravate the situation," the police said.

Among several videos being circulated on social media, one shows a crowd of people carrying saffron flags, in front of whom one person with a gun is seen walking towards a policeman and pushing him, and proceeding to fire shots from the firearm across the metal barricade-like dividers on the road. 

In another video, hundreds of people are seen rushing towards a group of police personnel in riot gear approaching them.

The pro and anti-CAA groups were clashing for the second consecutive day on Monday and hurled stones at each other. 

According to officials, a fire tender was damaged by the protesters after it responded to a fire call in Chand Bagh.

The Delhi Metro closed entry and exit at the Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur stations as an uneasy calm prevailed in the area. "Entry & exit of Jaffrabad and Maujpur-Babarpur are closed. Trains will not be halting at these stations," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a tweet.

Jaffrabad metro station entry and exits had been closed for over 24 hours.

Clashes first broke out on Sunday evening between pro and anti-CAA groups near Jaffrabad after a large number of people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) blocked a road, while similar sit-ins were launched in several other parts of the national capital.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged lieutenant governor of Delhi and the Union home minister to restore order.

Nobody should be allowed to orchestrate violence, he said.

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal instructed the police commissioner to maintain law and order in the national capital in the wake of violence.

"Instructed @DelhiPolice and @CPDelhi to ensure that law and order is maintained in North East Delhi. The situation is being closely monitored. I urge everyone to exercise restraint for maintenance of peace and harmony," Baijal tweeted.

Delhi minister and Babarpur MLA Gopal Rai on Monday urged the people in the area to maintain peace, saying some people were purposely trying to disturb the atmosphere.

"With folded hands, I request people in Babarpur Assembly to maintain peace. Some people are purposely trying to spoil the atmosphere. I have spoken to Delhi LG and he has assured me that more policemen will be deployed to bring the situation under control," Rai said in a tweet.


(PTI)

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