New Delhi (Agency): – On Wednesday, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking to halt a ‘mahapanchayat’ organized by Hindu groups in Purola, Uttarakhand, against alleged instances of “love jihad,” while local authorities implemented prohibitory orders in the town.
The ‘mahapanchayat’ is scheduled to take place in Purola town on Thursday, although the administration has not granted permission for it. Communal tension has been escalating in Purola and other towns in Uttarkashi district following an incident on May 26 when two individuals, one of them Muslim, reportedly attempted to abduct a Hindu girl. Despite the girl’s rescue and the subsequent arrest of the accused, local trade bodies and right-wing Hindu organizations have launched an ongoing campaign against “love jihad” in Purola and neighboring towns such as Barkot, Chinyalisaur, and Bhatwari.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah advised advocate Sharukh Alam to seek legal remedies and granted her the freedom to approach the high court or relevant authorities to prevent the ‘mahapanchayat’ and register a First Information Report (FIR) against hate speeches targeting a particular community. The bench stated, “We are not short-circuiting the legal process. There is a high court and district administration; you can approach them. Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the state government. Why do you think no action will be taken if the matter is brought to its notice? You should have faith in the high court.”
Alam argued that posters and letters have been circulated, urging members of a specific community to leave Uttarkashi, and despite a continuing mandamus that mandates the police to register an FIR suo motu in cases involving hate speeches, no action has been taken. Alam further stated, “The material suggests that an FIR needs to be registered under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act). A ‘mahapanchayat’ is scheduled for June 15, and they have given an ultimatum to the district administration to remove members of a particular community by June 15.”
Ahead of the ‘mahapanchayat,’ Purola Sub Divisional Magistrate Devanand Sharma announced that prohibitory orders under Section 144, banning the assembly of four or more people, will remain in effect until June 19. He explained that Section 144 has been imposed in Purola due to concerns of potential attempts to disrupt peace.
Various right-wing Hindu organizations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan, have called for the ‘mahapanchayat’ on Thursday to protest against “love jihad.” The term “love jihad” is frequently used by BJP leaders and right-wing activists to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to entice Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.
In addition to the reported abduction attempt in Purola on May 26, another failed abduction of two minor sisters of Nepali origin by an individual named Nawab was reported on June 8 in the Arakot area of Uttarkashi district. The accused in both cases have been charged under Section 363 (abduction) of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
More than 40 shops owned by Muslims in Purtla have remained closed for the past two weeks since the abduction attempt. Posters warning alleged perpetrators of “love jihad” to leave the town or face consequences had also appeared on shops run by Muslims last week.
On Monday, Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Rohilla and SP Arpan Yaduvanshi met with officials and representatives from all sections of the community in Purola, appealing for peace to be maintained. The Muslim Seva Sangathan, an organization advocating for the rights of Muslims, has also called for a ‘mahapanchayat’ to be held in Dehradun on June 18.
Muslim bodies such as the Uttarakhand Waqf Board and the state Haj committee have appealed to the chief minister to take strong action against “anti-social” elements attempting to disrupt peace in the hills and to protect Muslims who have been residing in Purola for generations.
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