Uttarkashi Mahapanchayat: Know Everything About Uttarakhand Tensions
Communal tension has been escalating in Purola and other towns in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, following an alleged attempt by two Muslim men, one belonging to the minority community, to elope with a Hindu girl.
Similar incidents involving Muslim perpetrators and Hindu victims have been reported from the Mori area of Uttarkashi and Gauchar in Chamoli district as well.
Since the incident, 42 shops owned by Muslims in Purola have reportedly closed, and posters threatening minorities to leave the state by June 15 have surfaced.
The Mahapanchayat, organized by the Hindu community, aims to discuss the issue of love jihad, which is believed to be prevalent and growing in Uttarakhand. The situation in Purola has remained tense since the alleged elopement attempt.
The Uttarkashi district administration denied permission for the Mahapanchayat and imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
But the organizations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal have supported the event.
On June 14, the Supreme Court rejected a petition seeking to halt the Mahapanchayat (grand assembly) scheduled to be held in Uttarkashi.
The court stated that maintaining law and order in the state is the responsibility of the government.
The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, appealed to everyone to maintain peace and not take the law into their own hands.
The administration has responded to the incidents appropriately and assured that strict action will be taken against anyone breaking the law.
The Director General of Police in Uttarakhand, Ashok Kumar, stated that the district police and administration are fully prepared to maintain law and order. He called for cooperation from all parties to maintain peace and warned that those who break the law will face consequences.
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In response to the rising concern over love jihad, Hindus in Uttarkashi have organized the Mahapanchayat on June 15.
Love jihad refers to the alleged practice of Muslim men enticing Hindu women into marriage for religious conversion. The recent case in Purola has sparked discussions and raised awareness about the rising issue in Uttarakhand.