Prohibitory orders imposed in riot-torn Trilokpuri were relaxed for the longest duration in a week on Thursday. The area near the makeshift temple, from where the problem first started, is still under strict vigil.
“The situation seemed much better on Thursday so it was unanimously decided to lift Section 144 for the entire day. We were cautious in the evening because mischievous elements tend to use the cover of darkness to create problems,” said a senior police officer.
While life is limping back to normalcy in the area, the police are also making their best efforts to restore peace.
Senior officers are creating groups of 10-12 residents in each Block to counsel people. “In each Block, we will select some people – both old and young – who will counsel locals and try to maintain a peaceful environment in the area. The tension cannot go on for a long time. There has to be some way to end it and this is how we feel we can do this,” a police officer said.
The police are also planning to create a WhatsApp group where they will add the community members from different Blocks and remain in touch with them. They have also urged residents to discuss their problems through WhatsApp.
Some senior police officers visited the area in the evening to discuss the idea with the residents. Early in the morning, the Delhi Police used mini-drones mounted with cameras to search the Trilokpuri area ahead of Chhath Puja. While on Wednesday the police arrested few individuals who had allegedly stockpiled weapons including bricks and knives on their rooftops, the drones deployed on Thursday could not find any such material, indicating that the area is ‘clean’.
