In response to communal tensions arising from an alleged attempted abduction of a minor girl last month, the authorities in Uttarakhand have recently implemented Section 144 in Purola. Additionally, permission to hold a maha panchayat in the same vicinity has been denied by the district administration.
Abhishek Rohilla, the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, has confirmed the enforcement of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in Purola, a hill station situated within the district. This provision grants the authorities the ability to issue an order prohibiting the assembly of four or more individuals in a specific area.
The Director General of Police of Uttarakhand, Ashok Kumar, stated on Wednesday that the state will not tolerate any acts that disrupt law and order. To maintain peace and security, the district police and administration are fully prepared, and all necessary measures are being taken.
Kumar emphasized that the law will not be broken, and those who attempt to do so will face the consequences. In a recent high-level meeting held at the secretariat, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared that reported incidents of love jihad would be subject to thorough investigation.
During the meeting, State DGP Ashok Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan, and officers from the Intelligence Department were present. The reason for the meeting was the tensions in Uttarkashi town Purola last month, where a 14-year-old girl was allegedly the target of an abduction attempt by two men, including one from the minority community. The police arrested both men involved in the incident.
On Monday, Murugesan emphasized that strict measures will be taken against anyone who takes the law into their own hands in Purola. He also addressed the recent elopement incidents in Uttarkashi, Vikas Nagar, and other areas, which have caused local people to agitate. FIRs were registered, and the police were doing their duty to establish peace. “Whoever breaks the law, strict legal actions will be taken against them. An investigation is underway,” he stated.
