Six individuals apprehended for assaulting police officers with swords at Muharram march in Nangloi.

Arrests made in connection with clashes during Muharram procession in Delhi

By Arvind Ojha

Summary:

• Police have arrested six individuals in connection with the clashes that occurred during the Muharram procession in Nangloi, Delhi.
• The key accused, Sahil Salmani, who brandished a sword and instigated the crowd, has also been arrested.
• The mob attacked police personnel, damaged public property, and threw stones at both the police and the public.
• Sahil Salmani had cut short his hair to evade arrest.
• The clash started when the procession organizers attempted to divert from the predetermined route, leading to stone pelting.
• Six policemen and six volunteers sustained minor injuries, and police vehicles were damaged.
• Three cases have been registered, and investigations are underway with the help of CCTV footage and social media videos.

Days after clashes erupted between a crowd participating in the Muharram procession and the police in Nangloi, west Delhi, injuring six policemen, the authorities have made six arrests in connection with the violence. Sahil Salmani, the key accused who instigated the crowd by brandishing a sword, has also been apprehended.

According to the FIR, the mob not only attacked the police personnel but also threw stones at the public, intending to cause harm. Public property was damaged during the clashes. Sahil Salmani, in an attempt to evade capture, had cut his hair after the violence.

Police videos released to the public depict Sahil Salmani wearing a black T-shirt and holding a sword, while another individual is seen with a stick. Apart from Sahil Salmani, the other arrested individuals have been identified as Aslam Qureshi, Samir, Sahil Khan, and Sohaib.

The clash originated when organizers of the ‘tazia’ procession attempted to divert their route from the predetermined path. This led to stone pelting, as the police objected to the diversion. In response, the police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the unruly crowd.

A total of six police personnel and six volunteers, including five women, sustained minor injuries during the clash. Additionally, several police vehicles were damaged due to stone pelting. The police have registered three cases related to the incident. They are currently analyzing CCTV footage and circulating videos on social media to identify the suspects and take appropriate legal action against them.