The Delhi Police has denied permission to carry out a Ram Navami Shobha Yatra and Ramzan prayers in northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri where violence broke out during the Hanuman Jayanti procession in April 2022.
Speaking to The Quint, DCP (northwest) Jitendra Kumar Meena said, "Permission has been denied for Ramzan and Ram Navami processions in Jahangirpuri keeping the law and order situation in mind."
He added that the permission for Ramzan prayers was sought by a local from Jahangirpuri who has no prior record of organising such gatherings and that for the Ram Navami procession was sought by a group called the Akhil Bharat Yuva Hindu Morcha.
The April 2022 Jahangirpuri violence: On 16 April 2022, violence broke out in Jahangirpuri during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in the area. According to the police, stones were pelted, vehicles were torched, and at least eight police personnel and one civilian were injured, with one police officer receiving a bullet injury.
The Delhi Police later arrested 24 people and apprehended two juveniles in connection with the communal clash.
What is the Police Saying? In addition to citing a possible law and order situation, the DCP also told The Quint that permission for the events was not sought beforehand and the requests were made recently. "There could be a clash since both religious festivals are in the same week. To avoid any untoward incident, we have asked people to stay away from these gatherings," DCP Meena said.
What is the Akhil Bharat Yuva Hindu Morcha saying? Reacting to the Delhi Police order, Shivom Mishra — the National Convenor of Akhil Bharat Yuva Hindu Morcha (ABYHM) — claimed, "We have been told that organising a shobha yatra can lead to a possible law and order situation in the area, similar to what happened last year. If you look at the people who were behind the clashes last year, you will see they are either members of the Aam Aadmi Party or those belonging to a specific community. We do not understand why permission has been denied for the shobha yatra, then."
Mishra added that people from his organisation participated in the 2022 Hanuman Jayanti procession in large numbers.
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