Over 200 booked for hurling stones during hindutva outfit's protest in Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi (PTI): More than 200 people have been booked in connection with a stone pelting incident that occurred during a hindutva outfit’s protest demanding demolition of a mosque built allegedly on government land here.
According to Uttarkashi Kotwali SHO Amarjeet Singh, eight people have been named in the FIRs registered under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Prohibitory orders under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) are in force across the district, Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Amit Shrivastava said.
On Thursday, 27 people, including seven policemen, got injured in a lathi-charge by police during a protest by the Sanyukt Hindu Sangathan who demanded the demolition of a mosque in Barahat area alleging that it is built on government land.
The protesters sat on a dharna on the Gangotri National Highway and started reciting Hanuman Chalisa but when they tried to remove the barricading, a scuffle broke out between the protestors and the police.
Officials said that during this some people started huling stones, after which the police first fired tear gas shells at the protesters and later lathi-charged in which some protesters and policemen got injured.
Flag marches were also conducted in the town besides deployment of additional police personnel in sensitive areas, SP Shrivastava said.
District Magistrate Meharban Singh Bisht and the SP toured the district and asked officials concerned to maintain order.
The markets remained closed in response to a bandh call given by the outfit.
The SP said some of the rallyists of the Sangathan began hurling stones when they were stopped by the police from taking a route which was different from the one which was permitted for the rally.
Police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to control the protesters, he said.
Thursday's incident had left 27 people, including eight police personnel, injured, Shrivastava said.
The protesters have alleged that the mosque built in the Barahat area is an illegal construction on government land. However, the district administration has clarified that the mosque is old and built on the land of people of the Muslim community.
The Uttarkashi District Magistrate's Office clarified this in a notice, which cites a report of Bhatwadi's Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mukesh Chand Ramola.
Meanwhile, officials of the CPI District Council sent a memorandum to Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (retd) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami demanding action against attempts to spoil communal amity in Uttarkashi as well as other districts of the state.
An attempt was made by hindutva organisations in Uttarkashi to create an atmosphere of hatred against a particular community and similar efforts are being made in other districts of Uttarakhand, the memorandum said seeking immediate action against this.
Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat in Dehradun said he is worried about such incidents.
While talking to reporters, Rawat said the matter should be handled in a manner that is legally correct.
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Sambhal violence: SP MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq, SP MLA's son booked; 25 arrested so far
Sambhal (UP) (PTI): Police have lodged seven FIRs in connection with the violence over a court-ordered survey of a Mughal-era mosque here, naming Samajwadi Party MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq and local SP MLA Iqbal Mehmood's son Sohail Iqbal as accused, officials said on Monday.
The district administration has already imposed prohibitory orders and barred the entry of outsiders into Sambhal till November 30. Internet services are suspended in Sambhal tehsil and the district administration declared a holiday in all schools for Monday.
Three people were killed and scores of others, including security personnel and administration officials, injured on Sunday as protesters opposing the survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid clashed with police. A fourth injured person died on Monday.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar said seven FIRs have been lodged in connection with the violence. Six people, including Barq and Iqbal, were named and 2,750 others have been mentioned as unidentified, he said.
"Due to Barq's statement earlier, the situation became worse here," he added.
The officer said 25 people have been arrested so far in the case and attempts are on to identify others involved in the violence.
He added that there was peace in the city and people have opened their shops even though it is the day of the weekly closure of markets.
District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya said late on Sunday that the prohibitory orders had been issued under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
"No outsiders, other social organisations or public representatives will enter the district border without the permission of the competent officer," said the order, which came into force with immediate effect.
Violation of the order will be punishable under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the BNS.
Earlier, Muniraj told reporters that Naeem, Bilal and Nauman -- the three men who died in Sunday's violence -- had been buried.
All three were aged about 25.
Tension had been brewing in Sambhal since November 19 when the Jama Masjid was first surveyed on the court's orders following a petition claiming that a Harihar temple had stood at the site.
On Sunday, trouble started early when a large group of people gathered near the mosque and started shouting slogans as the survey team began its work.
District officials said the survey could not be completed on Tuesday and was planned for Sunday to avoid interference with afternoon prayers.
Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is a petitioner in the case, had earlier said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "advocate commission" to survey the mosque.
The court has said a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.
On Sunday, Jain urged the Archaeological Survey of India to take control of the "temple".
Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, had earlier claimed the temple that once stood at the site was demolished by Mughal emperor Babur in 1529.
