Around a dozen incidents of violence were reported from large parts of Delhi after a Haryana court convicted Dera Sachcha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan in a rape case.
Among the major incidents was the setting ablaze of two coaches of the Rewa Express at the coach care centre of the Anand Vihar Railway Station of East Delhi.
Several teams from the Delhi Fire Service and the crime units of the local police including the dog squad were seen inspecting the site of the blaze.
In Khayala, a DTC bus was set on fire near the Khayala bus stop.
‘Shoot and scoot’
The police categorised these as “shoot and scoot” cases of sporadic violence, primarily those of arson and damage to public property, triggered by the verdict and what followed in Punjab and Haryana. However, they also said some instances of vandalism could have been done by mischief-mongers.
No injury or deaths were reported.
L-G Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed for calm even as reports about more such incidents from all parts kept pouring in on Friday evening.
“I appeal to all to maintain peace & have directed Commissioner of Police to take effective measures to ensure protection of life & property,” tweeted Mr. Baijal.
Mr. Kejriwal also took to twitter and posted: “I urge everyone to stay calm and maintain peace.”
However, incidents kept being reported sporadically, seven of them almost within an hour between 4-30 p.m. and 5-30 p.m.
The Hindu had reported on Friday that intelligence inputs suggested that the Delhi police would keep an eye on an estimated 20,000 supporters of the Dera chief at a dozen locations in the capital.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code were imposed in all 11 revenue districts.
