Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Muslims in Uttarkashi, a town in Uttarakhand, are being targeted by the Hindu groups groups over the alleged abduction of a minor girl by two men, one reportedly being a Muslim.
Several Muslim shopkeepers and workers in Purola, Uttarkashi have fled owing to the protests by right wing groups targetting Muslims over the alleged abduction of the minor girl as one of the accused happens to be a Muslim.
On May 26, a minor girl (14) sought direction to the local bus station from the two accused, said Khajan Singh Chauhan, in-charge, Purola police station. “They took the girl near a petrol pump away from the main market area and called an auto-rickshaw. Sensing something amiss, a passerby raised an alarm following which the accused fled the spot,” Chauhan said.
According to reports, Ubed Khand (24) and Jitendra Kumar Saini (23), working at a bicycle repair shop on Kumola road, were accused of kidnapping a class 9 student, a minor, in Kharsadi Mori Purola.
On May 27, the two accused were arrested, according to in-charge, Purola police station. “Further investigation in the matter is underway.”
The Hindu groups and also local businessmen organised a protest and shouted slogans against the Muslim community while threatening them to vacate their shops.
The protest on Monday — which was supported by local Vyapar Mandal (market union) by observing a bandh — turned violent after some protesters attacked shops and establishments of Muslim community, say media reports.
After the incident, at least 42 Muslim shopkeepers and vendors like street hawkers, vegetable vendors, bicycle repair persons and other such small businesses in Purola, Uttarkashi have fled the area to other places.
“We are trying to identify the protesters who attacked shops owned by Muslims during the protest on Monday,” Uttarkashi superintendent of police (SP) Arpan Yaduvanshi said. “Strict action will be taken against them.”
According to Dainik Jagran, the right wings groups who organised the protest also sent a memorandum to the Governor through SDM demanding the immediate removal of businessmen from a particular community, with a criminal mindset.
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File photo used for illustrative purposes only
