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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UP: BJP MLA falls on rail track while flagging off Vande Bharat train
Etawah (UP), Sep 16: BJP's Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauriya fell onto the railway tracks while vying to wave the green flag for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express here on Monday.
Purported videos of the incident surfaced on social media.
The incident occurred amidst a crowded platform as the train arrived around 6 pm. The 61-year-old second-term BJP lawmaker was among a host of people holding the green flag as they stood at the platform, the video showed.
Following the virtual inauguration of the Vande Bharat train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train, numbered 20175, was flagged off by the Rail Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Agra.
When contacted by PTI, BJP's Etawah unit treasurer Sanjeev Bhadauriya said, "The MLA was helped off the track and she then waited for some time at the platform for the flag-off event."
"Later she consulted doctors and is resting at her home now. She did not suffer any visible physical injuries. If there is any internal injury, it is yet to be confirmed," Bhadauriya said.
The train made stops at Tundla before arriving at Etawah station. Upon its arrival, a commotion ensued on the platform as various political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Douwhare, former BJP MP Ram Shankar, and current MLA Sarita Bhadauriya, gathered to participate in the flag-off, the videos showed.
As the train's horn signalled its departure, the platform became chaotic with supporters jostling for position. In the ensuing melee, the MLA was pushed off the platform and she fell onto the railway tracks in front of the train, it showed.
The train was stopped in time by bystanders, preventing a major accident. Bhadauriya was quickly rescued from the tracks by the police and taken to the hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
Talking about the operation date for the Vande Bharat Express, PRO Prashasti Srivastava from the Agra division of the railways said that the date will be announced soon.
The train will cover the distance between Agra and Varanasi in approximately seven hours. The return train will operate as number 20176 from Varanasi to Agra, while the Agra-Varanasi service will be number 20175.
Etawah, UP: The flag-off ceremony for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express faced chaos due to heavy rush, and BJP's Etawah Sadar MLA, Sarita Bhadoria, fell in front of the train pic.twitter.com/p10CfbDIF0
— IANS (@ians_india) September 16, 2024
