Hemmed in by barricades and police and paramilitary swarming all over the place, the troubled Jahangirpuri on Friday showed signs of returning to normalcy, with the local peace committee calling for communal harmony and members of the warring communities embracing each other, agreeing to let bygones be bygones.
On edge over the past week since the communal clashes erupted during a Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday, the residents of the C-Block, the epicentre of the violence, held a press conference at Kushal Chowk, where they resolved to take out a 'Tiranga Yatra' as a symbol of brotherhood and amity on Sunday.
Both communities said they want to live in harmony and ensure such incidents are not repeated again.
Tabrez Khan, a representative of the Muslim community, said, "We want to live in harmony. We will ensure such incidents are not repeated. We request the police to reduce force and barricading."
Inder Mani Tiwari, a Hindu and Resident Welfare Association president, described the clashes as disturbing.
"Please do not believe in rumours. Communal clashes have happened here for the first time. We must ensure they are not repeated."
As scenes of bonhomie unfolded in the area torn by communal strife, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said she was happy over the development.
"I am happy. Peaceful co-existence between two communities must remain. I have never stopped shops in H and G blocks from opening. I don't know why these shops are closed. We will facilitate the opening of shops and businesses in these blocks," she said.
The northwest Delhi locality stayed peaceful on Friday, a week after the communal riots, as people offered Friday namaz at the neighbourhood mosque but life remained far from normal.
The C-Block, the scene of the April 16 clashes and Wednesday's allegedly vengeful anti-encroachment drive by the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), was heavily barricaded and under tight security.
Several residents complained they were unable to open their shops or go to work due to the restrictions imposed on their movement, adversely affecting their livelihoods.
Home to people mostly belonging to the lower income groups, the residents generally work in factories or run small businesses like shops dealing in scrap and vehicle repair. Many others have vegetable and fruit stalls and general stores.
The establishments of some of them were pulled down during the demolition drive.
Locals claimed police were not allowing them to move freely and open their shops.
Anwara Bibi, a C-Block resident, alleged the restrictions have begun affecting their livelihoods.
"This barricading is creating a major trouble for us. I and my 17-year- old son are scrap-dealers. We are poor people. Authorities are least bothered about our livelihoods. We are not being able to earn our daily bread. How long will this go on?" an exasperated Anwara said.
"We are a family of four. I have to pay the rent of my house. How will we go on without earning? My family is dependent on me and my son," Anwara, whose husband is jobless, told PTI.
The mobile repair shop of Akbar, 25, at Kushal Chowk has been shuttered for the past six days and it was becoming difficult for him to survive.
"I started this shop five months back, and now for the last six days I am unable to open it. How will I feed my family of eight people? I pay Rs 15,000 rent for this shop every month. I have also taken a loan for which I have to pay an EMI of Rs 15,000. I have no idea what will happen," a crestfallen Akbar said.
Delhi Police Special Commissioner (Law & Order) Deependra Pathak said they are keeping a tight vigil in the area.
"The barricading will remain for a few more days. Situation today is better than previous days and we are keeping an eye on law and order here," he said.
There was some relief as residents of troubled locality were allowed to offer Friday prayers at the mosque in the C-block.
Anwar, a local resident, said police designated a route for people to go to the mosque, where the clashes first erupted on Saturday, leaving nine people injured, including eight policemen.
"Things are normal on our side. There is Jumma (Friday) today. Our neighbours and others are going to the Masjid too. I myself visited the mosque and offered namaz. Police are not stopping us from visiting the mosque. They have given us a designated route to go there," he told PTI.
Political and religious leaders visited the area but were prevented from meeting the locals.
A Vishwa Hindu Parishad delegation was stopped at Kushal Chowk.
Police had earlier denied permission to All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi and a Congress delegation to meet the people affected by the violence and the subsequent demolition drive.
All India Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India and Samajwadi Party delegations, too, were turned away on Friday.
The five-member CPI delegation led by party general secretary D Raja staged a dharna near the barricades at Kushal Chowk after being stopped.
However, unfazed by the criticism over the demolition drive that was halted by the Supreme Court, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party chief Adesh Gupta said 'the bulldozer of justice' will keep on rolling.
Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia shot back, accusing Delhi BJP councillors of demanding bribes from residents to save their properties following Gupta's instructions to remove encroachments using bulldozers.
Sisodia slammed the BJP's 'bulldozer politics' and asked his party MLAs to stand by the people who were being 'intimidated, blackmailed and threatened' by saffron party councillors.
Gupta has written to the mayors of the BJP-governed civic bodies to remove encroachments by 'Rohingyas, Bangladeshis and anti-social elements'.
"We are going to intensify our anti-encroachment drives. No one will be spared. Today also we held a meeting with officials and identified several sites in SDMC jurisdiction," South Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Mukesh Suryan said.
His East Delhi Municipal Corporation counterpart Shyam Sundar Agarwal said anti-encroachment drives will be further intensified.
