The Indian capital saw an anxious Sunday night as rumours of mob attacks swept large parts of the city. Unsubstantiated rumours of rioters ...
The Indian capital saw an anxious Sunday night as rumours of mob attacks swept large parts of the city. Unsubstantiated rumours of rioters roaming loose came in from places as wide apart as Rohini in Northwest Delhi to Jaitpur in the southeastern part of the city, nearly 50 kilometres away.
In panic, people shut themselves inside their homes and markets closed.
Absolute chaos in Kalkaji/Govindpuri area due to rumours. A police vehicle asking people to keep calm near Govindpuri. Residential blocks locking up gates well ahead of time. pic.twitter.com/XhkaN6dkQk
— Sruthisagar Yamunan (@sruthisagar) March 1, 2020
Eventually, clarifications were issued which made it clear that the panic was based on rumours.
What had happened was alarming. With a population of more than 16 million, Delhi is the fourth largest city in the world. To have panic sweep through such a large, dense population based on rumours is a sign that something is very wrong.
Adminstrative collapse
What is wrong is not difficult to see. Rule of law is teetering in Delhi as the police has allowed mass violence and incitement to take place with impunity.
The past week has seen horrific communal riots break out in the city, with at least 45 people killed and property worth crores of rupees destroyed by rampaging mobs.
This horrific violence was preceded by...
