Parking row sparks communal flare-up, alert across Old Delhi

Several areas in Central and Old Delhi remained tense Monday after an argument the previous night over a parking spot spiralled into a communal flare-up. According to police, while the initial incident took place in Hauz Qazi, on Monday, several shops remained shuttered in Chandni Chowk and Chawri Bazar. Allegations also emerged that a temple had been vandalised, and police spent the day trying to calm tempers on both sides.
Three FIRs have been registered and two men detained so far.
Urging people to help police restore normalcy, DCP (Central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa said: “After some altercation and scuffle over a parking issue in Hauz Qazi, tension arose between two groups of people from different communities. We have taken legal action and all efforts are being made to pacify feelings and bring about amity.”
According to police, around 10.55 pm Sunday, a man identified as Aas Mohammed was parking his two-wheeler outside one Sanjeev Gupta’s home. “Gupta, who was sitting inside his house, asked him not to park the scooter, saying he parked his cart there. An argument ensued and Gupta came out of his house. According to eyewitnesses, Aas Mohammed was beaten up by some locals, but he ran away and returned with his associates,” a senior officer said.

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