Toll 42 as Delhi limps, Shah blames Oppn for inciting riots

TNS & PTI

New Delhi, February 28

As the death toll rose to 42 amid uneasy calm in the riot-affected northeast Delhi, the Centre today decided to give additional charge of the city police chief to Special Commissioner (Law & Order) SN Shrivastava with effect from Sunday.

In Bhubaneswar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Opposition of inciting communal riots over the CAA by spreading “misinformation” that Muslims will lose their citizenship because of the new law.

Shrivastava, a 1985-batch IPS officer, will take charge from incumbent Amulya Patnaik, who retires from office on Saturday, a Ministry of Home Affairs order said.

On Monday, Shrivastava was repatriated from the Central Reserve Police Force and appointed Special Commissioner of the Delhi Police amid the riots.

The police, meanwhile, have urged people, including mediapersons, to give statements and share video footage in connection with the riots. The identity of the witnesses would be withheld, they said.

A total of 148 FIRs had been registered and 630 persons arrested or detained, the police said. Forensic teams had been called in and the crime scenes were being revisited.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the government had set up nine shelters for the riot-hit people and would start distributing Rs 25,000 ex gratia as immediate relief from Saturday to those whose houses had been burnt in the violence.

Hate Speech: HC seeks Centre, Delhi response

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of the Centre, Delhi Government and the police on pleas seeking an FIR against AIMIM leaders Asaduddin Owaisi, Akbaruddin Owaisi and Waris Pathan for alleged hate speeches. One of the pleas also sought an NIA probe against AAP leader Amanatullah Khan, actor Swara Bhaskar and radio jockey Sayema. PTI