A group of locals in old Delhi's Chandni Chowk took to the streets on Tuesday, placards in hand, asking for peace and 'resumption of normal business' as tension gripped the area after a clash over a parking spot turned communal on Sunday night.
A place of worship was also vandalised in the locality after the incident and security was beefed up in the Lal Kuan locality to prevent any further flare-up.
 
Two persons have been arrested and a minor apprehended for allegedly vandalising the temple, said a Delhi Police official, who declined to divulge other details.
On Tuesday evening, people from the two communities, in the presence of police, held discussions on ways to defuse the tension, which continued for the second day.
Jamshed Siddiqui, who was present in the meeting, said, "We have spoken to each other on the issue and decided that the 'aman committee' (peace committee) would bear the expenses to renovate the vandalised temple. We want peace in the area as it was earlier. We condemn the incident and the culprits, who have vandalised the temple, must be punished."
The meeting was also attended by Tara Chand Saxena of the 'aman' committee.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa said the residents decided that the culprits must be punished. "Everybody will live peacefully and the market will be opened from Wednesday," he added.
The trouble began when a 20-year-old resident of the area was parking his scooter outside a building. According to witnesses, a resident of the building who runs an eatery stall there objected to it.
Sanjeev Gupta, who was at the centre of the incident, said when Aas Mohammad parked his scooter outside the building, he asked him to remove it as it was blocking a path commonly used by people.
"He, along with other persons who were drunk, started beating me. In the meantime, I called the police and narrated the incident. The police took me and Aas Mohammad to the police station where the issue of the scuffle was resolved," Gupta said.
"I just want those who vandalised the temple to renovate it and help everyone to maintain peace in the locality as it was earlier," he added.
Rahul Kashyap, a 26-year-old local who works at a private company, said, "We want the police to take action against the people who vandalised the temple and ask them to renovate it as soon as possible."
"The idols in the temple have been vandalised and we cannot worship there until the new idols are placed," said Aniket Mehra, 26, who has a business of catering.
Mufti Mukarram Ahmad, Shahi Imam of Fateh Puri Masjid also condemned the incident.