Delhi violence LIVE updates: Death toll rises to 23, Ajit Doval says situation “under control”
The death toll in northeast Delhi communal violence over the amended citizenship law has reached to 18. The Delhi HC held an urgent hearing at midnight after two days of incessant violence and rampage across Northeast Delhi.
The death toll in northeast Delhi communal violence over the amended citizenship law has reached 23. The Delhi HC held an urgent hearing at midnight after two days of incessant violence and rampage across Northeast Delhi. The HC has ordered Delhi Police to ensure safety and immediate medical aid for all those who have been injured in the violence.
All private and government schools in Northeast Delhi are closed today and CBSE board exams scheduled in centres in the areas postponed.
Meanwhile, Delhi Metro authorities have said all entry and exit gates at all stations have been opened and normal services have resumed.
Follow live updates on Delhi violence:
6:35 pm: The Delhi Police will address the media at 7pm to share information on the law and order situation in North East District. The press interaction will he held at the Delhi Police headquarters.
6:20 pm: People of Delhi do not want violence. All this has not been done by the ‘aam aadmi’. This has been done by some anti-social, political and external elements. Hindus and Muslims in Delhi never want to fight.
6:17 pm:National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, after visiting sensitive areas of northeast, has reached Home Ministry to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
5:43 pm: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi Assembly: I want to assure the family of Delhi Police Head Constable Rattan Lal ji that we will take care of them. We will give a compensation of Rs 1 Crore and a job to a member of his family.
5:35 pm: People have a sense of unity among them, there is no enmity. A few criminals do things like this (spread violence), people are trying to isolate them. Police is here & doing its work. We’re here as per the orders of HM & PM. Inshallah yahan par bilkul aman hoga: Ajit Doval.
5:30 pm: Haryana government issues advisory on law and order situation across the state especially for the districts adjoining Delhi in the wake of the recent violence in national capital during CAA/NRC protest.
5:24 pm:Situation being monitored in areas of northeast with the help of drone, says Ajit Doval.
5:21 pm: Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval interacts with the local residents of northeast Delhi.
5:19 pm: Congress leaders and workers participating in ‘peace march’ stopped at Janpath Road. They were heading towards Gandhi Smriti.
5:15 pm:CBSE postpones the following subject exams scheduled for tomorrow in North East Part of Delhi. Exams in rest of Delhi shall be conducted as scheduled. The next date of exam for affected students will be notified shortly.
4:52 pm: Situation is totally under control. People are satisfied. I have confidence in law enforcement agencies. Police is doing its work:National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
4:41 pm: Congress leaders and workers have started a ‘peace march’ over the violence in Delhi. They are heading towards Gandhi Smriti.
Congress leaders and workers take out ‘peace march’ over violence in Delhi. They are heading towards Gandhi Smriti. pic.twitter.com/jrXJvGk7wB
4:36 pm: NCP MP Supriya Sule demands Amit Shah’s resignation over Delhi riots. Sule also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct a “transparent” probe into the security lapse.
4:35 pm: Delhi High Court adjourns the matter for tomorrow and states that the authorities must go strictly by the mandate of the law.
4:07 pm: So far we have treated 200 patients, 22 deaths took place: Sunil Kumar, Medical Superintendent of GTB Hospital.
4:06 pm: Hearing the pleas on the violence in Delhi, the Delhi High Court has said it doesn’t want to enter into the question whether Army should be deployed to contain violence in North East Delhi. “We should focus on the issue of registration of FIR right now,” the court said.
3:57 pm: “No way to restore peace and normalcy in Delhi other than calling in Army,” says CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
3:56 pm: Ajit Doval reaches office of DCP, Northeast district.
3:52: No reason not to lodge FIR against 3 BJP leaders: Delhi govt to HC
3:50 pm: Hearing underway in Delhi High Court against BJP leaders for making hate speech.
3:30 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval are monitoring the situation, says Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.
3:12 pm: Delhi High Court appoints advocate Zubeda Begum as amicus curiae to coordinate between victims and various agencies.
3:03 pm: Delhi High Court directs to set up helplines for immediate help for victims, private ambulances to be provided for safe passage of victims.
3:00 pm: Death toll reaches 22.
North East Delhi violence: 21 deaths in Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and 1 death in Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. https://t.co/UTouIXG64O
2:53 pm: Delhi High Court expresses concern over body an IB officer found in north-east Delhi. Court says it is “very unfortunate”. Court also asks the highest functionaries in state and central government to personally meet the victims and their families.
2:14 pm: After Congress’s presser on Delhi violence, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar targetted Sonia Gandhi, saying the government is open to discussion but politics should not be done over the issue.
Union Minister & BJP leader Prakash Javadekar: Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s statement is unfortunate & condemnable. At such times all parties should ensure that peace is maintained, blaming the government instead is dirty politics. Politicising this violence is wrong https://t.co/BngL9ZLeVEpic.twitter.com/z20bsw3eKH
1:54 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets on Delhi violence, appeals for peace.
Peace and harmony are central to our ethos. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times. It is important that there is calm and normalcy is restored at the earliest.
1:51 pm: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress: I appeal to the people of Delhi to not indulge in violence, exercise caution & maintain peace. We have told our workers in Uttar Pradesh to do all they can to maintain peace if violence spreads there.
1:40 pm: Body of Intelligence Bureau Officer Ankit Sharma found in North East district’s Chand Bagh area today.
1:39 pm: Hitting out at the Delhi government and the Centre, Sonia Gandhi said both the governments have “intentionally not done anything to contain the violence in Delhi” because of which 20 people have lost their life.
1:36 pm: Delhi CM must be visible in affected areas and in constant communication with people: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
1:26 pm: Sandeep Surjewala, Congress: Congress was to hold a march and give a memorandum to President today but he communicated that he is unavailable and has given us time tomorrow. Upholding the respect for his high office, we have deferred the march for tomorrow.
1:23 pm: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi: The Centre and the Union Home Minister is responsible for the present situation in Delhi. The Union Home Minister should resign.
1:21 pm: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi in Delhi: There is a conspiracy behind the violence, country also saw this during Delhi elections. Many BJP leaders made inciting comments creating an atmosphere of fear and hatred.
1:16 pm: Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi addresses media at AICC HQ on Delhi Violence.
1:11 pm: Delhi High Court asks Solicitor General to advice police commissioner on lodging of FIRs against alleged hate speeches by 3 BJP leaders; hearing to continue at 2.30 pm.
1:07 pm: Delhi Commissioner of Police, Amulya Patnaik: Normalcy has returned in North East district to a large extent, senior officers are on rounds, extra forces have been given and lot of confidence building measures are being taken. Things being brought back to normal.
1:01 pm: Delhi violence matter in Delhi HC: Justice Muralidhar says that the situation is very unpleasant. We have all watched videos of some leaders making hate speeches openly. It’s on every news channel.
12:56 pm: Central govt should take steps to normalise the situation in Delhi and prevent violence. The Union Home Ministry should not hesitate to take strong action against the culprits. The police should be effectively deployed to prevent violence: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
12:54 pm: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday will brief the union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Delhi violence.
12:44 pm: Delhi High Court to hear Delhi violence matter shortly. The plea seeks an independent judicial inquiry into the violence in areas of North East Delhi.
12:36 pm: Violence in Delhi colossal failure of Delhi Police, says Former Union Minister Chidambaram.
Whether the violence in East Delhi was instigated (MOS-Home) or spontaneous (MHA), the government has a duty to end the violence.
12:17 pm: Police doesn’t have to wait for orders if someone makes inflammatory statements but act in accordance with law: SC on Delhi violence
12:09 pm: Justice KM Joseph in Supreme Court expresses his displeasure over the way the police have acted. “The police needs to act immediately to handle the situation,” says Justice Joseph.
12:05 pm: No incident of violence reported today in Gokulpuri. Security personnel have been deployed in the area.
Delhi: Early morning visuals from Gokulpuri where security personnel are dousing embers and clearing debris, after yesterday’s violence in the area. No incident of violence reported today. Security personnel have been deployed in the area. #NortheastDelhipic.twitter.com/tkK4zEjcY2
12:01 pm: SC disposes applications relating to Delhi violence, says it is for HC to take note of matter.
11:32 am: Special Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) SN Shrivastava and Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Satish Golcha inspect the Jafrabad area. SN Shrivastava was appointed as Special CP, yesterday.
11:29 am: Congress leaders will march to Rashtrapati Bhavan to seek normalcy and peace in violence-hit Delhi, party sources have said.
11:27 am: Security personnel hold flag-march in Johripur area.
11:20 am: “Out of all the people that were brought to the hospital 189 are injured and 20 are dead,” says Sunil Kumar Gautam Medical Superintendent, Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital.
11:19 am: “Distressing scenes in Delhi!! #DelhiBurning as a result of ulterior motives of divisive forces within our Country. Police have completely failed in their responsibility. People have to remain calm and promote peace in the area for their own benefit,” says senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
11:04 am: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said he will write to Home Minister Amit Shah over the “alarming situation” in the national capital. The CM has also called for the deployment of the Army in affected areas.
I have been in touch wid large no of people whole nite. Situation alarming. Police, despite all its efforts, unable to control situation and instil confidence
Army shud be called in and curfew imposed in rest of affected areas immediately
10:47 am: Delhi High Court issues notice to Delhi Police and asks senior officials to remain present in the court in connection with a plea on violence in Delhi’s North East district.
8:07 am: Delhi High Court in a midnight hearing (on the intervening night of 25&26 February) directed Delhi Police to ensure safe passage for the injured victims by deploying all resources, as well as to make sure they receive immediate emergency treatment.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot and killed an individual attempting to cross the India-Pakistan border in the Ganganagar district of Rajasthan late on Tuesday, according to police.
Jitendra Kumar, the station house officer at Kesrisinghpur police station, stated that the man was trying to breach the barbed wire fence when he was spotted by BSF personnel. “They advised him to leave the area, but when he continued to advance, the BSF personnel shot him,” said the SHO.
Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that the suspect was allegedly trying to enter Indian territory around midnight on December 24, 2024. Despite warnings from the BSF soldiers, he did not heed their calls, which resulted in the shooting.
The incident occurred near a village in the Kesarisinghpur area. Items recovered from the intruder included Pakistani currency notes, a cigarette packet, an identity card, and other belongings. Authorities are currently gathering more information about him.
Ongoing discussions are taking place between the armed forces and police officers regarding the incident. An FIR has been filed that includes charges of trespassing and violations of the Passports Act and the Foreigners Act, according to Kumar. “We are investigating the case under these acts,” he added.
This incident is one of several similar occurrences along the border. In August, the BSF apprehended an intruder named Jagsi Kohli, who had entered about 15 kilometers into Indian territory in Barmer after locals alerted authorities that he was asking for directions to Tharparkar, a district in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
In March of this year, another person attempting to cross the border in Ganganagar was shot by BSF personnel. There have been additional incidents reported in October 2022 and twice in March 2021, all resulting in fatalities among the intruders.
Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Chandrababu Naidu among leaders at NDA meet in Delhi amid Ambedkar row
The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu among leaders of the NDA met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss different issues including Shah’s comment on BR Ambedkar days ago in Rajya Sabha.
In attendance, apart from Shah, Nadda and Naidu, JD-U leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy were present.
Also present were Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Bihar’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) and a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.
While the specific agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, sources indicated that discussions revolved around good governance and various political issues—principles that were central to Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister. The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.
Following the meeting, Nadda shared on X, “Attended the NDA leaders’ meeting in New Delhi today. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is achieving unprecedented milestones and has positioned itself as a global superpower. The NDA government remains committed to realizing the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”
Sanjay Nishad, chief of the NISHAD Party in Uttar Pradesh, described the meeting as “informal” and focused on Vajpayee’s legacy. He emphasised the importance of unity among all alliance members heading into future elections, mentioning that they congratulated the BJP leaders for their electoral victories in Haryana and Maharashtra.
Nishad further outlined that the meeting addressed coalition strategies to ensure that Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives effectively reach the populace and that electoral promises are fulfilled. He raised the topic of providing reservations for the fishing community, stating, “I presented evidence on this issue, as it was a poll promise. They will follow up with us next week to discuss it.”
Responding to inquiries about whether Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Ambedkar were discussed, Nishad said, “We are here for the welfare of the people. Our energy should focus on achieving success in that area, rather than engaging with negativity from opposition parties.”
The NDA meeting underscores the alliance’s commitment to the proposed simultaneous elections, with all members backing the initiative. A Joint Committee of Parliament, established to review two bills related to simultaneous polls, is set to convene on January 8.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday emphasised the urgent need for peace in the state, which has faced ethnic violence since May of last year, and called on two communities to reach a mutual understanding.
Speaking at the Good Governance Day event held at the state BJP headquarters, Singh expressed confidence that the BJP could restore stability to the northeastern state, highlighting the party’s commitment to coexisting harmoniously.
“What is happening in Manipur today has multiple causes. Those who seek to divide the state are now questioning the government’s actions… they are driven by a desire for power,” Singh remarked.
He mentioned several initiatives, such as ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ (People’s Day), designed to foster closer relationships between officials and the public. “We do not oppose any specific community. The BJP’s position is clear: we advocate for the idea of living together and have initiated efforts to strengthen ties between the police and the community,” he stated.
Singh added that the state government is diligently addressing the needs of internally displaced persons by establishing committees throughout the administrative framework. He claimed that the administration is responding quickly to the displaced people’s needs in areas such as education and agriculture.
“We have not made any mistakes. Our goal is to ensure the well-being of future generations. It is essential for both communities to remain calm. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should concentrate on the upcoming NRC process, capturing biometrics, and using 1961 as the foundation year for the Inner Line Permit,” Singh said.
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to acting within a democratic and constitutional framework, noting that achieving these goals will take time. “What we require now is immediate peace and a resolution of misunderstandings between the two communities,” he concluded.
The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of over 250 individuals and left thousands homeless due to clashes between the Meitei community and Kuki-Zo groups since last May.
“Only the BJP can save Manipur. BJP leaders possess strong values of nationalism and social justice, practicing reality-based politics in the nation’s interest. If I am not nominated for a ticket by the BJP, I will remain loyal to the party,” Mr. Singh added.
He also highlighted several unity-focused projects initiated by the BJP government, mentioning that a Unity Mall featuring stalls from all ethnic groups in the state will be constructed with an investment exceeding ₹140 crores.
APN News is today the most watched and the most credible and respected news channel in India. APN has been at the forefront of every single news revolution. The channel is being recognized for its in-depth, analytical reportage and hard hitting discussions on burning issues; without any bias or vested interests.