Uttarkashi: In Uttarkashi town of Uttarakhand, the Hindu right-wing organisations have postponed the ‘Mahapanchayat’ scheduled today, on 4 November against a five-decade-old mosque citing illegality in its construction.
This ‘Mahapanchayat’ was called under the banner of ‘Sanyukt Sanatan Dharam Rakshak Sangh’ after the Uttarkashi police booked over 200 people, including some members of right-wing organizations, for the violence during a protest march on 24 October.
District administration assurance to act against illegal activities
According to Kulbir Rana, a member of the ‘Rashtriya Shri Ram Seva Dal’ organization, “The Uttarkashi administration has given an assurance to us that they will take appropriate action against illegal activities and suspicious people linked to this mosque. Therefore, we have decided to defer this ‘Mahapanchayat’ which was scheduled on 4 November.”
Clash with police on 24 October during protest
On 24 October, the members of Hindu outfits had a clash with police when police personnel tried to stop a large group of protesters from marching beyond the barricading put up by the administration. Agitated protestors clashed with the police and pelted stones on police personnel. Following which the police used lathi charge to disperse the mob. Later, on 26 October, the Uttarkashi police arrested three men for allegedly violating the prohibition orders imposed under section 163 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Hindu outfits demanded the five-decade-old Mosque to be demolished
On 5 September this year, many Hindu organizations under an umbrella organization-Sanyukta Sanatan Dharma Rakshak Sangha-had submitted a memorandum to Uttarkashi district magistrate Meharban Singh demanding the demolition of a five-decade-old Mosque in Barahat area claiming that this mosque was built illegally and wasn’t mentioned in the revenue records. DM Singh, then, constituted a probe committee to inquire about the facts. This committee found in its investigation that the mosque was legal and its land was registered in the name of a Muslim communi
Called for a march on 24 October
Despite being familiar with the facts brought out by the probe committee, the Hindu organisations called for a protest on 24 October. BJP MLA from Gangotri, Suresh Chauhan also extended his support on 29 October to the people arrested after a scuffle took place with police personnel on 24 October. Later, Hindu outfits called for a ‘Mahapanchayat’ on 4 November against the police action.
