Uttarakhand: Section 144 in place, no Mahapanchayat held in Purola

Following the recent case of an interfaith affair, there is tension in the hill town of Purola, Uttarakhand. Amid rising tensions, the Hindu activists called for a Mahapanchayat against ‘Love Jihad’ (a word used by Hindu activists and media to refer to a pattern of crime where Muslim man hide their identity to trap Hindu women for conversion).

The city is under curfew as section 144 has been imposed in the town following the massive protests and scuffle between two groups in Purola. The town is under curfew till June 19. The Mahapanchayat scheduled to take place on June 15, remained cancelled as the administration barred more than four people from assembling at a place.

On June 15, news agency ANI reported, “Morning visuals from Purola of Uttarkashi district where Section 144 CrPC has been imposed by the district administration Uttarkashi district administration has refused permission for the proposed maha panchayat in Purola over alleged ‘love-jihad’ cases.”

“The traders’ association have closed the Purola market. Section 144 CrPC imposed by the administration is being followed. The police are keeping an eye on the area and are getting support from the local people. There are no reports of a violation of Section 144 CrPC”, said Inspector Santosh Kumar, Uttarkashi.

The Mahapanchayat was set to be organised by the Purola Pradhan Sangathan and with the support of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal among others. District Magistrate of Uttarkashi Abhishek Rohilla said, “The permission for the proposed maha panchayat to be held on June 15 has been denied. No one will be given permission to break the law.”

On June 14, the Supreme Court refused to entertain a petition seeking to prevent a ‘Mahapanchayat’ scheduled to be held on June 15 in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district. The Mahapanchayat would discuss the ‘increasing cases of love jihad and land jihad’ in view of the recent abduction of a minor Hindu girl by Uved Khan and Jitendra Saini in Uttarkashi. The court asked the petitioner to approach the High Court for relief while expressing disinclination to hear the matter.

Additionally, it was requested by the complainant that an FIR be filed against Hindu followers for allegedly making hostile comments towards a particular group of individuals. Notably, the event has now been suspended by the local administration despite the Supreme Court’s refusal to halt it, and as a result, it won’t happen unless the government reverses the decision.

On June 14, the local administration with additional security force carried out a flag march in Purola. The officials met the locals and requested to maintain peace in the area.

It is noteworthy that a few members of Bajrang Dal reached Purola Stadium to register their symbolic protest. Several vehicles of those attempting to attend the Mahapanchayat were stopped by the police administration at Naugaon, around 20 km from the town, where they sat on the road. Slogans of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and ‘Hindu Ekta’.

Members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal also submitted a memorandum to Purola Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Devanand Sharma over the “misbehaviour of Hindu sisters and daughters by members of Muslim community”.

“Keeping in mind the sentiments of the Hindus hurt by the incident of 26th May, and in relation to the false allegations made by the people of a particular community, strict action should be taken against the conspiracy to defame the Hindu society and Hinduist organisations…,” the memorandum said, urging that action be taken against “the culprits”.

Notably, on May 26, a Hindu minor girl was abducted by two youths, one of whom is from the Muslim community. The two accused have been identified as Uved Khan and Jitendra Saini. One of the accused owns a cycle repairing shop and the other one is engaged in making handmade blankets in the main market area of Purola.

Uved Khan trapped a Hindu girl studying in class 9, who is the daughter of one of the local shopkeepers in the market. He promised her marriage and then abducted her with the help of the other accused to the Vikasnagar region of the state. The duo were caught and taken into police custody.

Following the abduction attempt, there was a rage among the local people of the town and they had staged widespread protest across the city. As many as 40 shops in the hill town of Purola in Uttarkashi, 145 km from Dehradun, remained closed following the crime. The people enraged by the incident also demanded the shutdown of shops owned by Islamists and outsiders in the main market. They also demanded verification of non-local businessmen who run their businesses in rented premises in Purola. They also took out procession beating drums and shouting slogans against “love jihad band karo” in all these towns.

Following the abduction locals launched massive protest and demanded the shutdown of the shops owned by outsiders, the majority of whom are from the minority community. The locals demanded police verification of the outsiders before lending them the shops.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President from Purola, Virendra Singh Rawat said, “Saini happened to introduce Uved to the girl. He also influenced the girl in favor of Uved and helped the boy abduct the girl. The girl was actually trapped in a love affair by the Muslim accused who later also promised her of marriage. He then abducted her with the help of the other accused.”

He added, “Outsiders most of whom are from the minority communities migrate to Purola and set up small businesses like puncture, vehicle repairs, etc and then execute their agenda. They eye on Hindu girls and try to convert them to other religions. Several cases like these have happened in the past. This case is also one of those. Its simple love jihad,” These activists claimed that the accused Uved Khan had tried to conceal his identity in order to trap the minor.

Yamuna Valley Hindu Jagriti Sangathan president Keshav Giri Maharaj also accused traders from outside of assuming fake identities and trapping innocent daughters in the hills. “The incidents of abduction are increasing. The incident in Purola is a recent example of this. A similar incident had also happened in the Naugaon market,” he told PTI. In the meantime, representatives of the local traders’ organisation, who also participated in the protest met with Devanand Sharma, the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Purola. They demanded thorough verification of all the people who are not local and are staying and working in Purola.

V Murugesan, additional director general of police (law & order) denied reports claiming that members of the minority communities have left the city. “Nobody has left the town as it is not that easy to just leave businesses and homes behind in one night. The situation is completely under control. The accused, who were arrested, were produced before the local court which later sent them to jail,” he said.

In the recent update, the police authorities have began police verification of the outsiders as demanded by the local shopkeepers.