Mahapanchayat in Uttarkhand's Purola denied permission, Section 144 imposed following tension
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Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): The Uttarkashi District Magistrate on Wednesday banned gathering of four or more people in the wake of tension in the area stemming from an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl last month.
Alongside imposing restrictive Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, District Magistrate Abhishek Rohilla refused permission to the proposed Mahapanchayat, called by the outfit Purola Pradhan Sangathan on June 15, news agency ANI reported.
The outfit reportedly has the backing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal among others.
Abhishek Rohilla was quoted as saying: ‘The permission for the proposed mahapanchayat to be held on June 15 has been denied.’
Director General of Police (DGP), Ashok Kumar told ANI that permission to break the law over the mahapanchayat will not be given to anyone.
The alleged attempt to abduct a 14-year-old girl last month by two by men with one of whom being a member of a minority community triggered the continuing tension, and the men were arrested on May 27.
District Magistrate Abhishek Rohilla and Superintendant of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi met with local public representatives and community members on Monday in Purola in an attempt to ease tensions.
Members of a particular community reportedly told the officials that posters threatening them were put up in the area and added that they were living in ‘an atmosphere of fear’.
District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela appealed to both communities to remain peaceful and not to be misled by anyone, and urged people to open community special shops.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told a high-level meeting of top officials including State DGP Ashok Kumar on June 9 that cases of love jihad will be ‘strictly investigated’.