Death toll from Delhi violence rises to 27

The death toll from violence over the citizenship law in different parts of India's capital Delhi rose to 27 today.

More than 250 people including a child were also injured as armed mobs continued to rampage, loot and burn buildings, through parts of northeast Delhi, reports The Statesman.

Delhi police had also issued shoot at sight orders in parts of the northeast district this evening as the situation remained tense after more than three days of unprecedented violence between Hindus and Muslims.

The Delhi government has closed all educational institutions and postponed board examinations for today in the region.

Police shifted 20 injured from a hospital in Mustafabad to other medical institutions after the Delhi High Court asked lawmen to evacuate all the victims from the hospital and shift them to better medical institutions nearby.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today broke his silence over the clashes, tweeting that "peace and harmony are central to (India's) ethos," reports AP. "I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times," Modi stated.

Sonia Gandhi, president of the opposition Congress party, accused BJP figures of giving "inflammatory speeches spreading an atmosphere of hatred and fear", including in Delhi city elections this month.

Congress "appeals to the people to reject the politics of hate," Gandhi said, calling Home Minister Amit Shah, Modi's close ally, "responsible" for the violence, AFP reports.

The clashes broke out between pro- and anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) groups in the northeastern part of the city on Sunday and took an ugly turn on Monday and Tuesday, reports Reuters.