Situation still tense at south Delhi’s Jor Bagh area

New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Traffic was thrown out of gear while the situation remained tense in south Delhi’s Jor Bagh for the second consecutive day Monday as Shia Muslims protested lack of access to their shrine.

While sporadic, though minor, incidents of violence occurred when a Shia mourning procession was not allowed entry to the Karbala shrine Sunday evening, Shia residents of the adjoining BK Dutt Colony poured onto the streets on Monday.
Between 200 and 300 residents blocked the movement of vehicles heading towards the Safdurjung Flyover as they sat on the road, demanding permission to enter the Shrine.
The matter boils to civic agencies declaring the area around the shrine as the wakf (charitable endowment) property even as the property dispute is being heard by the Delhi High Court.
After close to seven hours, Delhi Police finally managed to vacate the street around 5.30 p.m. No arrests or detentions were reported.
On Sunday, crowds had clashed with police and security personnel over opening a gate leading to the shrine during the procession. Fourteen police officers were injured and half a dozen vehicles parked along the road were damaged.