On February 24, communal riots broke out in northeast Delhi turning it into a veritable war zone. Seelampur, Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Kardampuri, Babarpur, Gokulpuri and Shivpuri were engulfed in violence. Schools, shops and buildings were vandalized and burnt. The death toll has risen to 34 till date.

Pictures by Shrey Gupta

The Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed. In a late night hearing on February 26, Justice Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court directed the Delhi Police to ensure safe passage of those injured and to file an FIR against Kapil Mishra, a BJP leader, for inflammatory speeches.

The Rapid Action Force was called in to maintain peace. They held a flag march to disperse mobs and ensure no violence took place.

As tensions prevailed, people stayed indoors, running out of food and medicines. Work has come to a halt. Board examinations have been cancelled and schools are shut.

In the worst communal riots Delhi has seen since 1984, motorbikes, cars and autorickshaws have been burnt. Lives have been lost and livelihoods destroyed.