In the wake of the explosive stone-pelting episode at Delhi’s Turkman Gate, authorities have collared two more accused, elevating the arrest count to 18. This bustling corner of Old Delhi witnessed unprecedented fury last week when a protest against property demolitions morphed into a full-blown riot, with stones raining down on police lines.
Reports from the ground paint a picture of pandemonium: masked individuals emerging from side streets, scaling walls to gain height advantage, and coordinating attacks via mobile networks. The assault left vehicles torched, shops vandalized, and over a dozen officers nursing injuries. Quick response teams eventually quelled the disturbance, but not before significant damage to the area’s fragile peace.
Police operations have been relentless, involving night surveillance, informant networks, and tech-driven tracking. The latest detainees, residents of the vicinity with histories of petty crimes, confessed to mobilizing youth for the rampage, sources indicate. Charges under rioting and attempt to murder statutes now hang over them.
Beyond immediate action, the episode underscores chronic challenges in Turkman Gate—overcrowding, illegal encroachments, and neglect of basic amenities. Historians lament the threat to its 18th-century gates and bazaars, urging preservation alongside development. Civic bodies promise rehabilitation for displaced families, but skepticism runs high.
Heavy boots on the ground signal no let-up, with drone surveillance and checkpoint regimes in effect. Community dialogues are planned to address grievances proactively. As legal proceedings unfold, this crackdown aims to deter copycat violence, reinforcing that public order trumps unrest in the national capital’s historic heart.