Uttarakhand 'love jihad' case: Hindutva organisations temporarily cancel 'Maha Panchayat', Section 144 in force till June 19

Police have imposed Section 144 in Purola from June 14 to 19 and several cops have been posted in the area to ensure law and order.

Uttarkashi:The Hindu right-wing organisation's proposed 'Maha Panchayat' on 'love-jihad' has been postponed in Uttarkashi's Purola town which has been witnessing communal tension after a 14-year-old girl was allegedly abducted on May 26. Two accused, including a Muslim man, have been arrested in this connection.

The 'Maha Panchayat' was scheduled to be organised today. But, it has been postponed and the next date will be announced later. The move comes after Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed in Purola on Tuesday and it will be in place till June 19. Due to this, the marketplace wore a deserted look today. Several police personnel have been deployed in the area.

After the abduction bid, the Hindu organisations took out rallies and attacked shops while accusing a particular community trader, who had come from outside to do business here, of the rising incidents of crime. Also, posters were put up asking Muslim traders to vacate their shops in the area. Tension has prevailed in Purola since then, with shops run by a particular community remaining closed in the area.

Earlier, some people moved to the Supreme Court requesting to prevent the Hindu organisations from holding the 'Maha Panchayat' but the apex court refused to entertain it. Following this, the Association for the Protection of Civil Rights moved the Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday. The high court may hear the plea today.

Till now, 12 traders have collected their goods from their shops and vacated Purola. Officials are constantly holding meetings with traders over reopening their shops. The areas of Uttarkashi bordering Himachal Pradesh have been sealed. ADG Law and Order said that National Security Act (NSA ) will be imposed on anyone who tries to disturb law and order. The police have been conducting flag marches in Purola since yesterday.