Delhi police saved VHP workers during Jahangirpuri violence, claims group on Hanuman Jayanti incident

The Jahangirpuri violence in Delhi has now led to a face-off between the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a right-wing organisation, and the Delhi Police. On April 16, violence broke out when a 'shobha yatra' was being conducted in Delhi's Jahangirpuri on the Hindu festival of Hanuman Jayanti.

Two days later, on April 18, news reports suggested that the VHP and the Bajrang Dal had been booked for taking out a procession without permission.Reports said that Delhi Police had also arrested a local VHP leader. The press release was then withdrawn by the Delhi Police, according to news agency PTI.

Subsequently, the police force said that organisers of the Hanuman Jayanti rally had been booked, but did not name the VHP and Bajrang Dal. Police also said that a person had joined the questioning, and was let off after questioning.

VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal reacted to the news reports, claiming that the organisers had due permission. He said, "We heard that Delhi Police is trying to take action against some VHP workers. We are proud of Delhi Police. Their brave personnel saved many of our workers during attempted slaughter of Hindus in Jahangirpuri by Islamic jihadis. But we found out yesterday that an FIR has been registered against VHP for not taking permission, and there were attempts to detain or arrest some VHP workers. This is unfortunate, and raises questions about the functioning of Delhi Police."

Bansal added, "In last few years, dozens of Hindus have been killed in Delhi. The killers entered the victims' homes and murdered them with hammers, swords, knives, and guns. This happened in markets, parks. Islamic jihadis did this via mob lynching also. But concrete results did not come out of the cases. The criminals are not scared of Delhi police. This might've resulted in the Jahangirpuri incident. We'll fight the legal battle if VHP or its workers are ensnared in false cases."