Stone pelting during Hanuman Chalisa recital in Southwest Delhi

According to another officer, “There were reports that a group of women started objecting to the recital of Hanuman Chalisa. Amid the commotion, some stones were thrown at those reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.”

Police said tension in the locality had been simmering since Friday’s Muharram procession that passed through the area. “Some residents claimed that during the procession, they spotted Pakistani flags being hoisted. However, it was found later that they were religious flags not pertaining to any country,” said a source in the police.

Purported videos of the incident showed a group of women standing a few metres away from the DDA park, raising slogans. Another video from the Muharram procession showed a child waving a green-and-white flag in the same locality.

While the police intervened and dispersed the two groups peacefully, the incident prompted the deployment of more than 100 police personnel in the area to keep a check on the law and order situation. Police said both groups were counselled and no injuries or damage to property were reported.