Purola– In light of a plea requesting intervention to halt Hindutva groups from hosting a maha panchayat (conclave) in the Uttarkashi district, the Uttarakhand High Court highlighted that it is ultimately up to the state to uphold law, order, and peace. The conclave, scheduled in Purola town, had become a focal point of communal tensions escalating over the past week. Hindutva groups reportedly threatened Muslim traders, demanding shop closures and departure from the state by a certain deadline, following two individuals’ alleged abduction attempt on a Hindu girl.
The accused, Ubed Khan (24) and Jitender Saini (23) were arrested on May 27, a day after the purported kidnapping incident. The Hindutva groups labelled the incident as a “love jihad,” a discredited conspiracy theory alleging Muslim men entice Hindu women into relationships with the aim of religious conversion.
On Tuesday, the Uttarkashi administration denied permission for the Hindutva groups to proceed with the conclave. The state government informed the Uttarakhand High Court during the court hearing that the event had been called off.
In response, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which prohibits the assembly of more than four people, was imposed in Purola. These restrictions will remain in place until June 19. To maintain law and order, shops remained closed, and police patrolled the streets of Purola.
Although some Hindutva group members gathered at a field in Purola on Thursday morning, they were dispersed by the police. Law enforcement also prevented individuals from attending the conclave by stopping them on their way to the event.