In New Jafrabad, local residents patrolled the street with sticks and metal rods. Two reporters with the local NDTV news channel were attacked and badly beaten by a mob.

"There is a flow of injured people still coming in. There are casualties," said Dr Rajesh Kalra, the additional medical superintendent at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in New Delhi.

"There are all kinds of injuries - many pellet injuries and some from sharp weapons, too," said Kalra, adding some of the injured brought in on Monday had gunshot wounds.

SCHOOLS SHUT, TRANSIT HAMPERED

On Monday police used tear gas and smoke grenades but struggled to disperse stone-throwing crowds who tore down metal barricades and torched vehicles and a petrol pump.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed for calm.

"Whatever problems people have can be resolved peacefully. Violence will not help find a solution," he said yesterday.

Home Minister Amit Shah met with Kejriwal and other local officials yesterday and said additional forces were being deployed in affected areas. He urged political parties to avoid provocative speeches that could inflame protesters.