Uttarkashi: Over 200 booked for hurling stones during Hindu outfit's protest
The Sanyukt Hindu Sangathan was demanding the demolition of a mosque in Barahat area alleging that it is built on government land; police had to resort to lathi-charge
Uttarkashi, Oct 25 (PTI) More than 200 people have been booked in connection with a stone pelting incident that occurred during a Hindu 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. PTI