New Delhi

Hindus and Muslims – all residents of Northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri that was scene of a serious conflict between the two communities last week  walked together through the riot-affected streets holding the national flag to uphold unity and peace to let the normalcy prevail.

Led by the priest of the local temple and Moulvi of the mosque, the residents walked  the Tiranga Yatra (the march of the tricolor) in a procession in Sunday evening for a distance of 1.5 km.

Locals marching in the yatra were chanting slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India) while others watching the scene from their rooftops showered rose petals on the procession, as a mark of respect and welcome. The onlookers included women and children, who looked excited and visibly happy at the prospects of peace returning to their locality.

It is interesting to note that the Delhi Police has been instrumental in bridging the gap between two communities following the incidents of stone pelting on a procession on the occasion of Hunaman Jayanti eight days ago.

However, Muslims also alleged some people had tried to barge into the local mosque and raised provocative slogans.

It caused a day-long mayhem in the locality and tension peaked with Delhi Municipal Corporation launching a demolition drive targeting the illegal structures. The demolition drive was stopped within a few hours on the orders of the Supreme Court.

DCP Northwest Usha Rangani had been working with locals for peace in the area. She has posted several images of locals walking for peace in the area:

Today a Peace March was conducted by Delhi Police alongwith members of Aman committee in the area of Jahangirpuri.
People of the area were appealed to maintain peace and harmony, not to spread and trust rumours/misinformation and to report mischievous activities.@DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/LHzmz4A2Fr

— DCP North-West Delhi (@DCP_NorthWest) April 18, 2022

Police have unearthed a conspiracy behind the incidents of the day and arrested people, including the alleged mastermind, gun seller and the person who had sold stones that were collected for pelting on the procession.

Northwest Delhi Police chief Usha Rangani told medpersons that both Hindus and Muslims had approached the police on Friday to seek permission for holding a tricolour yatra as the beginning of the return of normalcy in the area.

After the trilour march, people of both the communities pledged and asked everyone around to maintain communal harmony, and good neighbourly relations.

 Also Read: "He's a Muslim, I am a Hindu and we are brothers," Anshu

The police was present in the area in good numbers to prevent any untoward incident.

The investigations into the incident have zeroed in on Ansar Sheikh, who is alleged to have received foreign funds for the violence. He is the owner of a large mansion in Haldia, West Bengal. The Enforcement Directorate have also launched investigations into his money trail.