Trilokpuri violence: Running for cover in the season of love

The wedding of Mahendra Kumar’s daughter was one of four such functions in Trilokpuri blocks 27 and 28 that witnessed stone-pelting.

A wedding in Trilokpuri. (Express photo by Gajendra)

Love was in the air — as were stones — as Mahendra Kumar’s daughter waited for the groom’s side to show up. When he set out to plan the day, Kumar, who drives an e-rickshaw, could not have imagined that guests would have to duck for cover as a mob started pelting stones barely five metres from the wedding venue.

The moment he saw violence flare up, Kumar rushed to tell the groom’s side not to enter the locality. “Around 8.50 pm, guests were enjoying music when there was commotion outside, and scared people started rushing inside the venue. They were screaming ‘attack ho gaya’. We stopped the DJ and asked guests to calm down,” Kumar said.

Kumar, who spent Rs 3 lakh on the tent and catering, added, “Stone pelting isn’t unusual here. We took the guests in cars to safety. We were expecting around 600 guests; only 200 showed up.” The wedding was one of four such functions in blocks 27 and 28, which witnessed stone-pelting. Shehzad, a fruit vendor, saw about 50 members of a wedding party cowering outside his home. “I invited them in; it’s the least I could do,” he said. His sister Shehzadi helped calm the women and children down. “We asked the women if they wanted milk for their children,” she said. The men were given beedis.

“We stayed at their house for two hours. Once we left, locals helped us get to police,” said Anil, who was with the wedding party. Raju Kumar, a member of catering team, said he left his bike behind as he ran for cover. When he returned, it was damaged.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Trilokpuri communal violence

Loading Taboola...

In Odisha, Modi mounts ‘loot tantra-vs-bachat utsav’ attack on Congress over GST

India4 hr ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday hailed the revised Goods and Services Tax (GST) structures, saying the era of “double bachat (saving) and double kamai (income)” has arrived under the Bharatiya Janata Party rule. Addressing the ' Namo Yuva Samabesh' in Jharsuguda, Modi accused the Congress of indulging in “loot tantra (tactics)” while in power.

View all shorts

Live Blog