Northeast Delhi violence: Death toll counts 20; HC directs police to ensure treatment of injured

New Delhi, February 26: Up in the fourth consecutive severe protest in Delhi's northeast area, the Delhi High Court has directed police to ensure safe passage to government hospitals and emergency treatment for those injured in the violence over the amended citizenship law. This is after the death toll at the communal violence in Delhi reaches 20.

 

The court held a special hearing, which started at 12:30 am, at the residence of Justice S Muralidhar after receiving a call from an advocate explaining the dire circumstances under which the victims were unable to be removed from a small hospital to the GTB Hospital.

 

"A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Anup J Bhambhani directed the Delhi Police to ensure safe passage of the injured victims by deploying all resources at its command and on the strength of this order as well as to make sure they receive immediate emergency treatment if not at the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital then at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) or Maulana Azad or any other hospital", the statement noted.

 

"The bench also called for a status report of compliance, including information about the injured victims and the treatment offered to them, and the matter will be heard during the day at 2:15 pm", it added. The urgent hearing was conducted after advocate Suroor Mander called the judge and sought urgent orders for safe passage of ambulances for the injured.

 

It also said this order be brought to the knowledge of the Delhi Police Commissioner. Communal violence over the amended citizenship law in northeast Delhi claimed at least 20 lives till Wednesday. On Tuesday, the violence escalated in northeast Delhi as police struggled to check the rioters who ran amok on streets, burning and looting shops, pelting stones and thrashing people.