Uttarakhand: Now, Efforts on to Stoke Communal Cauldron in Uttarkashi

Dehradun: After a lull of more than a week, the communal cauldron has become active since the past two days in the hill state with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announcing that the papers of the land on which the 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 the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party/Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (BJP-RSS) who were reportedly hurt following police lathi-charge  and registration of cases against eight ‘Hindutva’ leaders and 200 others for the October 24, 2024 violence.

The ‘Hindutva’ groups had held a protest on that day reportedly with the aim to demolish a mosque in Uttarkashi which they claimed was illegal, but the administration, after an inquiry, found it legal and registered with the Wakf board since 1980s.

However, the ‘Hindutva’ groups wanted to proceed toward the mosque, which was prevented by the police, leading to clashes and lathi-charge 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, during his visit, reiterated that ‘Land Jehad’, ‘Love Jehad’ and ‘Thook (spit) Jehad’ would not be tolerated in ‘Devbhoomi’ Uttarakhand and also claimed that his government had freed 5,000 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 was committed.

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

 The alleged accused arrested for the Paithani incident.    

Meanwhile, emboldened by the Chief Minister’s assurance, Hindutva groups announced on Wednesday to hold a demonstration at the tehsil level on November 25, against the Uttarkashi mosque. Anuj Walia, regional in-charge of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged that the Uttarkashi mosque had been illegally built and was acting as a centre of ‘terrorists’. He also announced a ‘Mahapanchayat’ at Ramleela Ground in Uttarkashi on December 1, 2024.

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

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A case was registered against Mirza under relevant sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita) and IT (Information Technology) Act and he was arrested from Bijnore district of Uttar Pradesh. The girl was also found. Meanwhile, Hindutva groups, led by BJP’s Pauri district leader Lakhpat Bhandari, who had been in the forefront of targeting 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 a case against the accused under various sections, including conversion, rape, kidnapping and blackmailing within two days.

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

The writer is a freelancer based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.