Delhi Police Establishes a Good Example at Bhalswa

Bhalswa J.J. Colony of North-West Delhi has a mix population of Hindus and Muslims, mainly migrated from West Bengal, UP and Bihar. This unplanned colony consists of low income and low educated families. In the evening of 8 September there was a clash among some youngsters of two communities while they started throwing stones at each other. Ten to 12 people were injured in the clash. Gradually the whole colony was influenced by this incident and the tension increased.
The situation could have blown out of control but some responsible residents of the colony immediately informed the police and the local administration. The Delhi Police rushed to the spot and succeeded in bringing the situation under control. The police force stayed there 24-hours for the last two weeks. The local political leaders of all parties cooperated and worked hard along with the police to reduce the tension. Many local residents said that if police and political leaders had been active in Muzaffarnagar and other places like Bhalswa, the riots could have been controlled easily.
Police formed a peace committee to continue peace and control any further violence. On 20 September this committee organised a communal harmony conference on ‘Hindu Muslim Ekta Sammelan’. The Sammelan witnessed a huge gathering. Ajesh Yadav, MLA (AAP), Ajit Yadav, Councillor (Cong.), Bijay Bhaghat, runner-up MLA candidate (BJP), Dharam Veer Yadav, ex-MLA, and many local leaders of social and political organisations were present there. Many senior police officers were among the guests; R.K. Ojha, A.C.P of Delhi Police was the Chief Guest.
Mufti Suhail Qasmi, JIH representative, said that human beings have come into existence from single parents, Adam and Hawwa; so in this respect we all are brothers and sisters. In the Indian context Hindus and Muslims are like two eyes of a person to whom both they eyes are equally important.
“There is no major problem in this locality but people went after the rumour. The local people cooperated very well so that there was not a single lathi charge during the whole conflict. Don’t give communal colour to any such incident,” said R.K. Ojha, ACP of Police.
S.K. Rais, 18, a local resident told the Radiance that he has a good relation with his Hindu friends even after this incident. Other young boys Naveen and Rakesh Kumar also said that the people who never go to mosque or temple for prayer were more active in this conflict.