Feel unsafe in our own homes, say terrified Delhi residents

Divya Prabhakar

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 25

The northeast Delhi remained tensed throughout the day as mobs roamed unchecked through streets, burning shops, pelting stones besides threatening and attacking locals, leading to 11 deaths in total.

Bhajanpura, Khureji Khas, Chandbagh and Maujpur witnessed intense stone-pelting, vandalism in shops and houses besides vehicles being set afire. “I hardly managed to flee to a safer place. There was madness all around," said a passerby.

Another man said, "The mob appeared fearless. They damaged everything they came across besides attacking innocent people."

The police said rioters damaged two fire engines in Gokulpuri. Raising incendiary slogans, they set on fire even carts and rickshaws.

The police had to fire teargas shells to disperse rioters.

Streets were littered with mangled remains of vehicles, bricks and burnt tyres.

“There is hardly any police presence in the area. Rioters have gone bersek. Families need to be evacuated. We are unsafe in our own homes,” said a family of Maujpur.

Another resident said he never witnessed such violence in 35 years in Maujpur.