India: 47 deaths confirmed in Delhi communal violence

NEW DELHI, India

The death toll from recent riots in Delhi reached 47 Monday after four more bodies were fished out from drains and brought to a hospital.

While the situation in parts of northeast Delhi remained peaceful on Sunday, tensions prevailed due to the heavy deployment of paramilitary forces in all major parts of the riot-hit district.

Meanwhile, both the houses of parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, were adjourned until Tuesday after an uproar on Delhi violence.

The houses met for a debate on the second part of the budget session, but opposition leaders, who have been demanding the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over the violence, announced a protest in the legislatures.

The Indian Supreme Court, on the other hand, decided to hear on March 4 a plea seeking registration of first investigation reports (FIR) against politicians for hate speeches, which allegedly led to violence in the capital.

It added that the courts were not equipped to handle pressure to control riots.

Delhi Police have registered 254 FIRs and arrested or detained at least 903 persons in connection with the violence so far. Some 41 of the cases were registered under the Arms Act.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has asked the police to file a status report on measures taken for medical treatment and rehabilitation of violence-affected people in the district. The court listed the matter for further hearing on April 30.

Far from the capital, Meghalaya in northeastern India saw fresh incidents of violence on Saturday, related to the controversial citizenship law. The state’s capital, Shillong, saw unrest after unidentified people went on a stabbing spree in the city’s busiest market, killing three and injuring over 10 people.

The state government soon imposed curfew in parts of Shillong, mobile Internet restrictions were imposed, with the police arrest eight people.