New Delhi, Feb 26 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday agreed to hear in the afteroon a plea for a judicial inquiry into the violence in northeast Delhi since Sunday and directed a senior Delhi Police officer to be present during the hearing.

"Make sure a senior police officer is here," Justice S Muralidhar told Delhi Police counsel Amit Mahajan, as he agreed to hear at 12.30 pm the plea filed by activist Harsh Mander.

The plea was mentioned before a division bench headed by Justice Muralidhar since the Chief Justice's bench is on leave.

Mander, in the plea, sought an independent judicial inquiry and compensation to those who had died since Sunday. The death toll in Delhi violence has so far risen to 20.

The petition sought directions for the constitution of an SIT comprising officers from outside Delhi and headed by an officer of integrity and repute, capable of acting in an independent manner.

It further demanded direction to the Union of India to request the Army to maintain law and order in Delhi.

The plea also sought the arrest of some prominent political persons for alleged hate speech that incited the public to indulge in violence.