Delhi police caution people against believing rumours of violence

In an attempt to calm the panic-stricken people of Delhi, the city police on Sunday (March 1) called upon the residents of the national capital not to believe in rumours that were being spread through social media. This follows nervousness and fear gripping certain localities in the aftermath of circulation of messages pointing to clashes over the Citizenship amendment act (CAA).

Police said that they have detained some people for allegedly spreading rumours.

“Some unsubstantiated reports of a tense situation in Southeast & West District are being circulated on social media. It is to reiterate that these are all rumours. Don’t pay attention to such rumours. Delhi Police is closely monitoring accounts spreading rumours and taking action,” the police tweeted.

Some unsubstantiated reports of tense situation in SouthEast & West District are being circulated on social media. It is to reiterate that these are all rumours. Don’t pay attention to such rumours. Delhi Police is closely monitoring accounts spreading rumours and taking action.

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) March 1, 2020

Initially, even Delhi Metro believed in that hearsay and shut the gates of Tilak Nagar, Nangloi, Surajmal Stadium, Badarpur, Tughlakabad, Uttam Nagar West and Nawada stations. Once the air was cleared they were opened.

Talking to NDTV, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Southeast Delhi, RP Meena said, “The situation on the ground is very normal. It is under control. We received many calls. All the calls were found to be fake. We sent the calls to the SHOs, inspectors. We are dominating the area. We are talking to the people.”

MLAs Atishi and Jarnail Singh too pitched in to pacify the disturbed people.

“Have received WhatsApp messages about mobs in Govindpuri and Kalkaji. These rumours are all false. The situation is peaceful. Police are patrolling the area,” Atishi tweeted.

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“I reached the site as soon as I heard of the rumour of riots; shops were shut, people were in a state of panic but no one saw any riots happening. It was a conspiracy to spread rumours and spoil the atmosphere. I appeal to people to maintain peace and brotherhood and do not believe the rumours,” Jarnail Singh told PTI.

It is to be recalled that 46 lives were lost and more than 200 sustained injuries, including cops in the four-day mayhem that rocked northeast Delhi.

Two special probe teams are at work investigating the violence.