Tension returned to Trilokpuri on Thursday. It is the East Delhi neighbourhood that witnessed communal riots nearly a month ago. The police said the episode was sparked by a rumour spread by “mischievous elements”.
Late into the evening, a group of young men were reportedly seen running for safety. They were shouting about stone pelting in the area. This resulted in a chaotic situation as panic stricken locals joined them and shopkeepers rolled down their shutters.
While uncertainty remains about what triggered the rumours, an area resident said that in Block 11 of Trilokpuri, two men in an inebriated condition were engaged in a fight. “When they reached Block 15, a huge crowd gathered around them and some anti-social elements threw bottles. While this was going on, someone started screaming that stone pelting had started,” he said.
Police personnel from Kalyanpuri and Mayur Vihar police stations along with those from the reserve forces soon reached the spot. They appealed to the people to go back to their houses. Their efforts to restore calm were assisted by members of the Aman Committee.
Senior police officers said that the additional forces deployed to control the situation would be stationed till Friday morning to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
