Kejriwal demands army deployment in Delhi as death toll soars to 20

The death toll in northeast Delhi communal violence over the amended citizenship law (CAA) rose to 20 on Wednesday (February 26), according to GTB Hospital authorities. Confirming the same, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted the updated number of fatalities.

Expressing concern over the prevailing situation, the CM in a letter to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded that the army be deployed to contain violence in the city.

“I have been in touch with large no. of people whole nite (night). Situation alarming. Police, despite all its efforts, unable to control situation and instil confidence (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted.

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

Am writing to Hon’ble HM to this effect

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2020

Earlier, at least four bodies were brought to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital from the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court is all set to hear three issues related to the violence in the national capital.

Firstly, the court will hear a plea seeking a judicial enquiry, and compensation to the deceased family and action against several political leaders for allegedly inciting violence through their hate speeches.

Secondly, the court will continue to hear a plea seeking safe passage of injured victims of the violence to medical institutions with adequate facilities. There was a midnight hearing as well, on Tuesday, before Justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani of the Delhi High Court regarding matters related to providing medical facilities to the victims of violence.

A status report of compliance, including information about the injured victims and the treatment offered to them, is likely to be placed before the court later in the day.

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

In the third case, the Delhi HC ordered the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to come up with a long-term plan at 2.15 pm, on its plans to have simultaneous exams for students of the board. It also directed the CBSE to inform students of class 10 and 12, in one go about the schedule for the next 10-15 days of their board exams, stating that students should not be notified on a piecemeal basis.

The direction came after the CBSE on Wednesday said that exams in 86 schools in the violence-hit northeast Delhi have been postponed.

Yesterday the students of Jamia Millia Islamia staged a protest outside the residence of Arvind Kejriwal demanding action against the communal violence. The call to gherao the chief minister’s residence post-midnight was given by Jamia Coordination Committee, which comprises students and alumni from the varsity.

The students said they were allegedly detained and taken to Civil Lines police station. They also accused the police of using water cannon and force against them.

Police confirmed that they used water cannons to disperse the protesting students.

The varsity students were also joined by a group of Delhi University students. A total of 41 students, including eight students of a Delhi University college, were detained and taken to Civil Lines police station.