Arvind Kejriwal And AAP Leaders To Skip Holi Celebrations In Wake Of Delhi Riots

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that he would not celebrate Holi in wake of communal violence in northeast Delhi. Responding to a question at a press conference in the National Capital, Kejriwal, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party national convener, said that he and his party MLAs would not celebrate Holi due to the riots. The communal violence in northeast Delhi, which was sparked by protests over the amended Citizenship Act, has left 48 dead and over 300 injured.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava on Wednesday said everything was under control in riot-hit North-East Delhi. He met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla in Parliament. The meeting lasted for an hour. "Everything is under control and we are on top of the situation," he told PTI after the meeting.

Shrivastava was given the additional charge of Delhi Police commissioner after the retirement of Amulya Patnaik.

A week after the communal violence in northeast Delhi, the residents are slowly picking up the pieces as the government's relief and rehabilitation measures have kicked in amid tight vigil by security forces. The police have been conducting flag marches and holding meetings with the locals in Jafrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Mustafabad where the violence, that sparked from protests over the amended Citizenship Act, was the most intense. In Mustafabad, an Eidgah has been turned into a relief camp, and the locals too have opened their homes for those seeking shelter. Many families have sought refuge at the relief camps in Mustafabad and Shri Ram Colony, with others preferring their relative's house.

Students are appearing for board exams that was postponed in the riot-affected. The police and paramilitary personnel are maintaining a tight vigil outside the centres. However, government schools in the area will remain closed till March 7. Some people are visiting their burnt out homes to assess the damage. Many of those who fled during the violence are still fearful about returning and say they would wait for a week more before deciding anything.

The Delhi Police has registered 436 FIRs and arrested or detained 1,427 people in connection with the communal violence that claimed 48 lives and left over 300 injured. an officer had said on Tuesday, adding 45 cases were registered under the Arms Act. The situation in the riot-affected areas was under control and the police control room (PCR) have not received calls regarding rioting in the past six days, the force said.

On Tuesday, Mohammed Shahrukh, who was seen confronting an unarmed police personnel during violence at Maujpur last week, was arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said.