Police arrests 14 in New Delhi after Communal skirmishes

Indian police apprehended 14 people in association with violent conflicts between Hindus and Muslims during a Hindu religious ceremony in the country’s capital, New Delhi, police said in a tweet on Sunday.

Six cops and many others were wounded on Saturday during skirmishes that ruined the procession at a festival in Jahangirpuri, a suburban section of New Delhi.

“Remaining rioters are being identified for strict legal action,” the police said.

There were no reported deaths from the incident. In the past few weeks, religious conflicts have blown up between the majority Hindu and minority Muslim groups during religious ceremonies in various parts of the Indian state.

The rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has strengthened hardline religious groups in recent years to take up inflicts that they say uphold the Hindu faith, although his party has rejected any rise in communal uncertainties during Modi’s rule.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minority Affairs Minister, who is part of Modi’s government, told in an interview published on Sunday that prejudice among religious communities was not exacerbating, while he de-emphasize contemporary occurrences.

“Fringe elements, who are unable to digest the peace and prosperity in the country, try to defame India’s inclusive culture and commitment,” he said to The Economic Times newspaper.

He said that it was not the government’s duty to dictate dietary practices to the people, after university students in New Delhi previously disputed on campus over the serving of non-vegetarian food in the canteen during a week that Hindus consider auspicious.

Photos: Representational cum courtesy/file