Efforts on to stoke communal cauldron in Uttarkashi

Efforts on to stoke communal cauldron in Uttarkashi

S.M.A.KAZMI

Dehradun , Nov 7

After a lull of more than a week, the communal cauldron has become active for the past two days with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announcing that the papers of the land on which Uttarkashi mosque is built would be re-examined by the administration. Dhami made the announcement during his Uttarkashi visit on Wednesday, where he tried to assuage the feeling of  ‘Hindutva’ groups belonging to his ruling BJP/RSS who were hurt following police lathi charge  and registration of cases against eight ‘Hindutva’ leaders and 200 others for October 24, 2024 violence. The ‘Hindutva’ groups had held a protest on that day with an aim to demolish a mosque in Uttarkashi which they claimed as illegal but the administration after inquiry has found it legal and registered with the Wakf board since 1980’s. But the ‘Hindutva’ groups wanted to proceed towards the mosque which was prevented by the police leading to violence and lathicharge in which protestors and policemen were injured. The incident had infuriated the ruling BJP/RSS leaders which took it as an affront to be checkmated by the administration.

The Chief Minister dur9ing his visit reiterated that ‘Land Jehad’, ‘Love Jehad’ and ‘Thook(spit) Jehad’ would not be tolerated in ‘Devbhoomi’ Uttarakhand  and his government has freed 5000 acres of encroached land in the state. He further said that the administration would re-examine the land papers of the Uttarkashi mosque and see if any illegality has been done.

A delegation of Hindu organisation led by district BJP chief Satinder Rana had met the Chief Minister and complained against police lathi charge on October 24, 2024. Acting promptly to placate them, the state administration acted swiftly and finding no scapegoat transferred a Muslim officer Raza Abbas, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to  state headquarters in Dehradun while Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP Prashant Kumar, Uttarkashi was also attached with police headquater, Dehradun with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, buoyed by the Chief Minister’s assurance, Hindutva groups announced on Wednesday to hold a demonstration at tehsil level on November 25 against the Uttarkashi mosque. Anuj walia, regional incharge of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) charged that Uttarkashi mosque has been illegally built and acting as a centre of ‘terrorists’. He announced to hold a ‘Mahapanchat’ at Ramleela ground in Uttarkashi on December 1, 2024.

On the other hand, communal tension prevailed at Paithani town of Pauri Garhwal district following posting of alleged obscene photos of a young girl on social media allegedly by one Shanawaz Mirza , who used to run a barber shop in Paithani town market. The Pauri Garhwal police had received a complaint from a man who stated that his sister-in-law had left home following posting of her obscene photos by the alleged accused who had been missing from the area for past sometime.

A case was registered against Shahnawaz Mirza under relevant sections of the BNS and IT Act and was arrested from Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh. The girl was also recovered. Meanwhile, Hindutva groups led by Pauri district senior vice President Lakhpat Bhandari who had been in the forefront of targeting of Muslim minorities in the area by indulging in hate speeches reached Paithani and forced closure of shops including those belonging to minority community members. He gave an ultimatum to the police to register case against the accused under sections including those of conversion, rape, kidnapping and blackmailing within two days.

In another case, Mohammad Amir, who had posted his unsavoury comments regarding Marchula bus accident on November 4, 2024 was arrested by Pauri Garhwal police for spreading hatred and vitiating communal amity. He was arrested by on November 5 after a case was registered against him at Thailisain police station. Meanwhile, a Hindutva mob reached his home at Thailisain seeking demolition of his home which they alleged was built illegally. However, police prevented the mob from acting.