Northeast Delhi Riots and the charred smell of Fear
Photo: Sanjay Basak
‘If fear had a smell, it’s the air in the riot-torn areas in Northeast Delhi’ - Photos from the remnants of violence.
Editor’s Note: While U.S. President Donald Trump was being given a grand welcome to India, communal riots broke out in Northeast Delhi, in neighbourhoods across the Yamuna river, provoked by hate-speech and angered at the protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. Since the night of February 23, there have been over 40 deaths and 200 injuries, including policemen, an IB officer, and innocent civilians. Homes, schools, places of business, and places of worship have been burned and vandalised. The threat of more bloodshed still remains.
On February 26, Sanjay Basak visited the neighbourhoods of Jafrabad, Vijay Mohallah, Maujpur, Kardampuri, Chand Bagh and Karawal Nagar to document the riots. Below is a sample of his photos from Northeast Delhi in the remnants of violence. ‘If fear had a smell,’ he said, ‘it’s the air in the riot-torn areas in Northeast Delhi’ .
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Photo: Sanjay Basak
Sanjay Basak is the chief of bureau and senior associate editor at The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle in New Delhi. He grew up between Kolkata and New Delhi. He has spent 30-odd years as a journalist, also working at The Telegraph, ZEE News, Doordarshan, and more. Basak now mainly writes on politics. He is also an amateur photographer and a painter.
