Residents live in fear a day after mob attack

New Delhi: The street connecting Maujpur-Babarpur and Jafarabad, which witnessed days of violent clashes and horror, wore a deserted look on Wednesday. From the morning, the sound of police vehicle sirens rang out across the area while the residents were watching movement of security forces across the street from their houses.

Meanwhile, on the street, there were broken pieces of glasses, tear gas shells, Molotov and burnt vehicles. A man in his late 30s was standing on terrace and was talking over the phone. When he was asked about the situation of the area, he said: "They (mob) broke the lock and tried to burn my shop. While doing so, a short circuit occurred and the rioters fled. The situation is still tense."

Shops were vandalised in the area and shopkeepers were seen collecting the products which were thrown on the road by the goons. "For my hard-earned money, I built the shop," a shopkeeper narrated. "They (mob) broke the gate of the park and threw Molotov on vehicles," said another resident. The residents were showed the Molotov bottles and stones which were thrown at them.

A woman said that they brought stones, bricks on carts and started throwing at their colony. "The scene was horrific I will not forget the violence," the woman added. According to the residents, rioters had occupied a foot over bridge and they were throwing Molotov on the innocent residents.

Many people also questioned the inaction of the police. "Since morning, flag marches and patrolling was being conducted in the area. But in the last three days, more than 20 people had lost their lives. Who is responsible. Police should have taken action beforehand on the very first day of the violence started," residents said.

In Kabir Nagar area, bullet shells were lying on the road. Amid tension and fear, labourers in the area continued to leave north-east Delhi. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) had said that they have received 70 fire calls from the violence-hit areas in north-east Delhi on Tuesday. On Monday, a total of 45 fire calls were received from riot-affected areas.