Indian special branch and intelligence wing had sent at least six alerts to Delhi Police, asking to intensify security after BJP functionary Kapil Mishra called for a gathering in northeast Delhi.
According to a report published in the Times of India, clashes erupted in the area on Sunday evening, the same day Mishra had called for the gathering.
The next day, the clashes turned into full-fledged riots, and as of now at least 32 people have been killed.
Sources said the multiple alerts were given to the northeastern district and police through wireless radio messages, reports the Times of India.
The report said the first alerts was given to step up deployment and increase vigil after Mishra posted the tweet at 1:22pm, asking people to assemble at Maujpur Chowk at 3pm in support of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Later, more alerts were sent after stone-pelting began in the areas and mobs were seen gathering in colonies.
Wishing anonymity, an officer said police had taken all possible measures after getting the alerts.
A dog sits on the remains of a damaged house that was set on fire by a mob in a riot affected area after clashes erupted between people demonstrating for and against a new citizenship law in New Delhi, India, February 26, 2020 | Reuters
The officer said: “It was for this precise reason that a senior officer accompanied Mishra and ensured that he left the area as soon as possible. Despite efforts, anti-CAA protesters started pelting-stones on Mishra’s group, which led to retaliation and subsequent clashes. However, the situation was brough under control in no time.”
On Sunday, former Delhi MLA and BJP leader Mishra brought out a rally against the CAA protest in Jaffrabad, northeast Delhi.
Through Twitter, he urged people to gather and “prevent another Shaheen Bagh” protest from taking place near Jaffrabad.
As of now, the death toll from four straight days of clashes over the citizenship law in Delhi has reached 34. Over 200 people were injured in the clashes.
The Indian Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuked police for their lack of professionalism in controlling the violence in Delhi.
The CAA passed by the Parliament of India on December 11, 2019, aims to fast-track citizenship for persecuted Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is the long-delayed culmination of the anti-foreigners movement in Assam which led to the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. Under the accord, those who entered Assam after March 24, 1971, would be declared foreigners and be deported.
Protests and violence have erupted across India since the enactment of the CAA and declarations by the Indian government that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be carried out nationwide.
