Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): Uttarakhand government on Wednesday tightened its leash on organisations which called 'Maha Panchayat' on Thursday over alleged 'love jihad' cases by imposing Section 144 and sealing of the border in Purola, which became the epicentre of communal tension over an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl last month.
The police staged a flag march in Purola in a stern message to individuals and groups to desist from fomenting trouble as Hindu organisations showed defiance to go with the proposed 'Maha Panchayat' on Thursday. On the other hand, Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his intervention in the matter.
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad state president Anuj Walia told the media at the Hanuman temple in Uttarkashi city that the 'Maha Panchayat' will be held at a fixed time and place in Purola. Walia accused the district and police administration of trying to play spanner in all possible ways.
In another development related to the case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking to prevent a 'Maha Panchayat' called by Hindu outfits. Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan have given a call for the mahapanchayat on Thursday against 'love jihad.' The outfits announced the event in Purola on Thursday without obtaining the administration's permission. Communal tension has been brewing in Purola and some other towns of Uttarkashi district after two men, one of them Muslim, allegedly tried to abduct a Hindu girl on May 26.
Reacting on the communal tension issue, Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said his government is committed to ensure peace and won't allow anyone to take law into their own hands. Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi said 300 police personnel including two COs and one additional SP have been rushed from Dehradun headquarters to maintain law and order.
Night patrolling will be increased in the city from today, he said. People coming from outside in the district will be specially monitored along with checking at Nagun, Brahmakhal and Damta barriers. He added that the entire Purola town will be monitored from Thursday with drones. Legal action will be taken against violators of Section 144.
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Rohilla said that Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in Purola. Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar said on Wednesday that no one will be allowed to disturb law and order in the state. "We are fully prepared to thwart any attempt to disturb law and order in Purola. No one will be allowed to break the law...action will be taken against those who will try to break the law," Kumar said. Last week, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami promised action against those involved in "cases of love jihad that are coming up".
"These cases will be strictly investigated," Dhami said after attending a high-level meeting in the secretariat. State DGP Ashok Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan and officers of the Intelligence Department were present in the meeting.
Purola Sub Divisional Magistrate Devanand Sharma said prohibitory orders banning the assembly of four or more people under Section 144 will remain in force till June 19. Section 144 has been imposed in Purola as there could be an attempt by people to disrupt peace, he said.
