New Delhi: Giving Delhi police a clean chit amid allegations that it didn't act swiftly during communal riots in north-east parts of the national capital last month, the Union Home Ministry said in the Rajya Sabha that "it acted promptly in a professional manner", and it was high population density of the area that delayed movement of forces and vehicles.
In a written reply in the upper house, Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, G. Kishan Reddy said until March 12, 763 cases, including 51 cases under Arms Act, have been registered.
MHA gives clean chit to Delhi Police on riots
"A total of 3,304 persons have been arrested or detained, while 545 persons were injured and 52 died during the recent riots in Delhi," he said, answering Congress' MP Syed Naseer Hussain, who had asked if the Delhi violence was the result of the failure of Delhi Police."
"Delhi police acted swiftly and promptly in a professional manner but the high population density of the area and narrow lanes/by-lanes added to the challenges in the movement of forces and vehicles. During the riots, more than 100 policemen sustained injuries while containing the violence," the Union Home Ministry wrote in the formal reply.
It also said that the Delhi Police ensured that the disturbance was contained and not allowed to spread to other parts of Delhi. The national capital witnessed violence which started on February 23, making hundreds of people homeless.
