‘Leave by Dec 31 or face action’: Traders threaten Muslims in Uttarakhand town

Local traders have reportedly asked some 15 Muslim families — some of whom are decades-long residents — to leave an Uttarakhand town by this yearend.

The vyapar mandal (traders’ body) of Khansar town in Chamoli district apparently “passed a resolution” to that effect during a meeting on Wednesday (October 16) following a “chetna” (awareness) rally at the town’s Maithan market, The Times of India reported.

Not only that, the traders of Khansar town, some 260 km from Dehradun, have also announced a fine of Rs 10,000 for all those who rent out property to Muslims.

The local police claimed they were “not aware” of the incident.

Traders threaten to take “punitive action”

A former president of the traders’ body, Virendra Singh, told the newspaper that the resolution was a unanimous decision and it was taken as a “preventive” measure. Apparently, the aim is to prevent “crimes against Hindu women” by Muslims since, he claimed, such incidents have taken place in other towns of the state.

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Singh, who is now the president of the Maithan Seva Samiti, reportedly confirmed to TOI that all Muslim families have been asked to leave the town before December 31. He also confirmed that if they don’t leave, “legal and punitive action” will be taken against them as well as their landlords.

Vested business interests?

A member of the minority community told TOI that the actual intention behind the step stems from “vested business interests” besides disturbing communal harmony. He added that none of the Muslims families was in any way involved in criminal activities.

The traders’ body has also decided to bar all hawkers from entering Khansar valley, Singh told TOI, adding that any hawker caught breaking the rule would be fined Rs 10,000 and face legal action. Khansar valley comprises 11 village panchayats.

Minorities targeted last month too

Chamoli SP Sarvesh Panwar told the newspaper that they had no idea about these threats and would investigate the matter and take legal action if they find it true.

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This is the second time in two months that the minority community has been targeted in Chamoli district. Muslim shops at Nandghat were attacked in September after reports of harassment by a Muslim youth spread in the area.

Hindutva groups took out rallies in Gopeshwar town seeking verification of all “outsiders”. Following these incidents and reportedly faced with death threats, some 10 Muslim families fled the town.