BackDon’t believe rumours: Police clarifies after reports of violence in West Delhi, DMRC closes some metro stations
Delhi Police has apprehended two suspects from RohiniThe Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Sunday evening closed a few stations, but announced reopening them within half an hour
PremiumPanic gripped the residents of several parts of west Delhi on Sunday evening following false rumours of violence but the Delhi Police denied any incident and appealed people to remain calm.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said it had shut down the entry and exit gates of seven metro stations but did not give any reason. The stations were later reopened.
"A rumour has been noticed that there is some tension in Khyala-Raghubir Nagar area of West District. There is no truth behind it. All are requested to keep calm as the situation is absolutely normal & peaceful," DCP West Deepak Purohit said.
"There are some rumours regarding some communal tension in Tilak Nagar and Khyala area. It is intimated that there is No tension in Tilak Nagar and Khyala and whole west Distt area. Nothing to worry about," he added.
Police said some "unsubstantiated reports" of tension in southeast and west districts were circulated on the social media.
"It is to reiterate that these are all rumours. Don't pay attention to such rumours. Delhi Police is closely monitoring accounts spreading rumours and taking action," they said, adding that rumours about tension in Dwarka and Badarpur areas were also "unsubstantiated".
The DCPs of some police districts and station house officers (SHOs) of police stations took to Twitter to assure people that their areas were peaceful and normal.
Watch: 'Situation normal, don't panic': Delhi police denies rumours of fresh tension
However, shopkeepers downed shutters and vendors closed weekly markets as people rushed home early in several areas, including Subhash Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri and Khyala areas in west Delhi.
Tilak Nagar MLA Jarnail Singh too urged people to remain calm.
"I reached at the site as soon as I heard of the rumour of riots, shops were shut people were in a state of panic but no one saw any riots happening. It was a conspiracy to spread rumours and spoil the atmosphere. I appeal to people to maintain peace and brotherhood and do not believe the rumours," he said.
Rajesh Sharma, a resident of Subhash Nagar, said he had gone to a mall in west Delhi when at around 7:45 pm, he witnessed sudden commotion.
"The outlets inside the mall began shutting down and the situation remained tense for nearly 20 minutes before the police arrived and assured everyone that the situation was normal," he said.
Delhi Police on Sunday detained some people for allegedly spreading rumours in the national capital.
"Today, some anti-social elements spread rumours. We received many PCR calls. The situation is completely normal. Deployment of police personnel is everywhere. Don't pay attention to rumours and inform police about it," Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa told ANI.
"Spreading rumours is a crime. We are closely monitoring social media and will take strict action. Delhi Police has detained some people who spread such rumours. We are registering cases against them and will arrest them," he said.
Delhi Police has apprehended two suspects from Rohini.
Meanwhile, the metro stations which were briefly shut down included Tilak Nagar, Nangloi, Surajmal Stadium, Badarpur, Tughlakabad, Uttam Nagar west and Nawada metro stations.
Also, Faridabad Police issued a statement stating that Commissioner of Police KK Rao is monitoring the situation. These are rumors (reports of violence), everything has been verified. We appeal to everyone to not believe in or spread rumors. Action will be taken against rumor mongers.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh said he spoke to acting Delhi Police chief S N Shrivastava on the rumours of fresh violence in the national capital and was ensured that the situation was under control.
Anxious people also took to Twitter asking if the rumours were true.
Police said that they were talking to people to assure that nothing untoward has happened and they should remain calm.
The AAP MP, in a tweet, requested people not to pay heed to any rumours.
"Rumours of violence are being spread in Delhi. In this regard I spoke to Delhi CP (commissioner of police) and he said that reports of violence are rumours and the law and order situation of the national capital is completely under control," he tweeted.
He also posted a video of AAP leader Amanatullah Khan saying there are rumours being spread that fights have broken out in Madanpur Khadar, Jaitpur and Okhla areas.
"These are all rumours senior officers are present there. Please don't listen to rumours. If anyone says that violence has broken out, ask them for evidence. Don't get frightened. We all have to fight these rumours. Rumours spread panic and that in turn leads to violence. Believe that we are all with you," he said in the video.
AAP leader Atishi also took to Twitter and said she received WhatsApp messages about mobs in Govindpuri and Kalkaji areas."These rumours are all false. Situation is peaceful. Police is patrolling the area," she said asking people to remain calm.
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