Death toll reaches 18 in Delhi, HC asks cops to help injured get medcare

With Delhi police struggling to contain rioters who ran amok on streets burning and looting shops, pelting stones and thrashing people, the death toll due to the communal violence over the amended citizenship law (CAA) in northeast Delhi reached 18 on Tuesday (February 25).

Taking cognisance of the situation, the Delhi High Court in a midnight hearing, directed the police to ensure safe passage and emergency treatment for those injured in the violence. The Bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani directed the Delhi Police to deploy all resources to ensure this.

The Bench also said that the order be communicated to the medical superintendents of the Guru Tegh Bahadur and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan hospitals in Delhi.

The Bench also called for a compliance report, including information about the injured and the treatment offered to them.

Following the hearing that took place at the residence of Justice S Murlidhar on an urgent plea seeking safe passage for the injured to medical institutions with adequate facilities, the matter will again be heard on Wednesday at 2.15 pm.

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to increase the strength of the police force in violence-affected areas besides ensuring that necessary action be taken to contain violence. He also held a meeting with AAP MLAs and officials to discuss measures to restore peace and called upon the people at large to maintain calm and peace.

He also visited the family of the Delhi police head constable Ratan Lal who was killed in violence on Monday.

The chief minister said that hospital authorities in the affected area have been alerted and that instructions too have been given to them to help the injured get proper and timely treatment. The Fire Department too has been instructed to coordinate with the police so that they can reach the affected areas in time, he further said.

Temples and mosques, situated in the troubled areas, too will have to weigh in, by appealing to people to maintain peace and calm, Kejriwal added.

The chief minister along with Sisodia also met the injured policemen and civilians at GTB hospital in Shahdara and Max hospital in Patparganj.

“I met the people injured in the violence, including those with bullet injuries. I have instructed that special care be given for the injured, more beds arranged, more doctors roped in and all possible measures are taken to save the lives of the victims. Treating the injured is not an issue,” he said.