Signboards banning non-hindus erected in Uttarakhand villages, police initiates probe
Dehradun: Signboards prohibiting the entry of "non-Hindus" and hawkers have surfaced in several villages across Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, triggering a police investigation and raising concerns among Muslim organizations. The boards, reportedly installed outside various villages, have led to the Uttarakhand Police taking action, with local authorities working to identify those responsible for putting them up.
Uttarakhand's Director General of Police (DGP), Abhinav Kumar, confirmed that he has instructed local police and intelligence units to investigate the matter. Rudraprayag Circle Officer Prabodh Kumar Ghildiyal stated that several of these signboards have already been removed, and efforts are underway to remove others.
The text on one of the boards, found outside Nyalsu village, reads: "It is prohibited for non-Hindus/Rohingya Muslims and hawkers to do business/roam around in the village. If found anywhere in the village, punitive action will be taken." The directive was allegedly issued by the local gram sabha.
Local village heads have confirmed the presence of these boards. Pramod Singh, the pradhan of Nyalsu, claimed that the boards were installed by villagers to prevent unverified hawkers from entering the area, citing concerns over the safety of women in the village. Similar statements were made by village heads from other areas, though some retracted their initial confirmations.
The issue came to light following a meeting between Muslim delegations and DGP Kumar on September 5. The delegations expressed concerns over what they described as a rise in anti-minority incidents in the state, accusing right-wing groups of targeting the Muslim community.
Uttarakhand has witnessed communal tensions in recent years, with incidents of violence and threats against Muslim communities becoming increasingly common. The latest incident occurred in Nandanagar town, Chamoli district, where a mob attacked properties belonging to Muslims following the arrest of a Muslim man accused of inappropriate behavior. Despite assurances from local police, reports suggest that several Muslim families have fled the town due to safety concerns.
Police continue to investigate the situation, with further action expected in the coming days.
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Vartha Bharati–Sankalp predictions align closely with Karnataka bypoll results
Bengaluru: The Vartha Bharati–Sankalp election analysis has shown a high level of accuracy in predicting the outcome of the recent Karnataka Assembly by-elections held in May 2026, correctly calling winners in both constituencies and closely estimating vote share trends.
The by-elections were held in Bagalkot and Davanagere South, drawing significant political attention as both seats were seen as key tests for the ruling Congress and opposition BJP.
According to the analysis, Vartha Bharati–Sankalp had made three major projections ahead of the results the winning party, vote share percentages, and margin of victory.
In both constituencies, the platform accurately predicted that the Congress would emerge victorious. The outcome matched the projections, with Congress candidates winning in Bagalkot and Davanagere South.
In terms of vote share, the predictions were largely in line with the final results. In Bagalkot, the BJP’s vote share was forecast in the range of 40 to 46 per cent, while the actual figure stood at 42.9 per cent. The Congress vote share, however, exceeded expectations, with the party securing 55.4 per cent against a projected range of 43 to 48 per cent.
The margin of victory in Bagalkot turned out to be significantly higher than anticipated. While the projection had placed the margin between 2,000 and 3,500 votes, the final margin was around 22,332 votes.
In Davanagere South, the predictions also remained largely accurate. The Congress vote share was projected between 43 and 51 per cent, and the final figure stood at 43.9 per cent. The BJP was expected to secure between 42 and 50 per cent but ended with 40.3 per cent.
The analysis had also identified the role of SDPI as a potential spoiler in the constituency. While its vote share was estimated around 6 per cent, the party eventually secured around 12 per cent of the vote.
The margin of victory in Davanagere South was predicted to be between 1,500 and 2,600 votes. The actual margin was higher at around 5,708 votes, though the contest remained relatively close as anticipated.
Overall, the performance of Vartha Bharati–Sankalp stood out for correctly identifying the winning parties in both seats and maintaining close accuracy in vote share estimates, with only limited deviations in specific cases.
