NEW DELHI, June 24 — One person was killed and 17 persons including 14 police personnel, were injured in rioting at Yamuna Pusta in North Delhi.

The injured were admitted to LNJP Hospital from where the police personnel had been discharged. Two persons, Ganga Ram, who sustained bullet injury and Lal Babu are still undergoing treatment in the hospital.

The Joint Commissioner of Police, Mr Ajay Chadha said, the situation in the area was under control. As many as 31 persons were arrested on charges of attempt to murder, damaging public property, arson, rioting and under the Arms Act. Sufficient police and paramilitary force had been deployed there.

He said the incident was linked with two incidents — one the drive against nationals of Bangladesh and the second of bomb blast at Red Fort in which two persons were killed and 11 injured.

Mr Ajay Chadha said last night the police entered a mosque in the area in search of a Red Fort bomb blast suspect, Shah Alam, after getting a tip-off that he was hiding there. However, the suspect was not there. One person identified as Ishaque Mullah, an alleged Bangladeshi national, living in a room opposite the mosque, was arrested.

While the police was reportedly interrogating Isaque Mullah, a mob of 60 persons came to the police post and shouted at the police personnel alleging that the police had dishonoured the Kuran. The in charge of the police post, Sub Inspector, Pradeep Kumar, tried to clarify them that the Kuran had not been dishonoured.

Within a few minutes at least 500 persons gathered and started pelting stones on police personnel. When they tried to set the police post on fire the in charge of the post fired eight rounds of tear gas shells to disperse them. But it had no effect on them and the crowd set on fire a police Gypsy and two motor cycles.

The mob, which had swelled to nearly 1500 by this time, reportedly entered the police post and ransacked it, destroyed the furniture and burnt records. The police fired eight rounds in self-defence following the order of the Additional SHO of police station, Kotwali.

Mr Ajay Chadha said residents of Yamuna Pusta had pre-planned to attack the police post as they had blocked the main access to the area that was Vijay Ghat. The police had to use force to enter the area.

Mr Ajay Chadha said so far 22 Bangladeshi nationals had been deported. At least 100 more are suspected to be living in Delhi. The drive against Bangladeshi nationals would continue, he said.

People in the area also confirmed that the arrested man was a Bangladeshi national. He came to the Capital last week.

Residents of the area allege that the policemen entered the mosque last evening and threw the Kuran which irked them. When they went to the police post to protest, they were misbehaved which led to the rioting.