Uttarakhand: Signs have been put up in Rudraprayag barring non-Hindus and Rohingya Muslims from entering

Signs have been put up in several villages in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand banning non-Hindus, Rohingya Muslims and street vendors from entering the country.

Such posters were seen last week after a sexual assault case in Chamoli that led to protests by local residents demanding action against a particular community. Though the accused was arrested, tensions spread to Rudraprayag.

Posters warning against Muslim traders and their intrusion into villages have gone viral on social media, prompting police to launch an investigation into the matter.

Uttarakhand Police spokesperson Dinesh Bharne confirmed that such posters had been put up in Rudraprayag. He said the police were working with locals to defuse the situation.

He added that any attempt to disturb social peace would be punished with strict measures in accordance with relevant legal provisions.

The spokesman said that the police were conducting a thorough screening of outsiders as per the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He assured that further complaints would be investigated immediately.

WHY ARE THESE POSTERS PRESENTED?

In Rudraprayag district, a sign was put up in Sonprayag village reading: “Non-Hindus and Rohingya will face action if they enter the village.” This came after the sexual assault case in Chamoli last week created tensions.

Ashok Semwal, a resident of Sirsi village in Rudraprayag, said many villagers go out to work, leaving women alone at home, which they said increases the risk of incidents. He added that posters have been put up to prevent strangers from entering without verification or ID, citing previous cases of temple thefts.

Muslim leaders register protest

AIMIM state president Dr Nayyar Kazmi met with Uttarakhand Director General of Police and demanded legal action against those who put up the signs.

Kazmi claimed that following a recent dispute, Muslim houses were attacked and looted, forcing many to flee. The DGP assured that swift action would be taken against the accused.

Kazmi warned that if no concrete steps were taken within a week, the AIMIM leadership led by Asaduddin Owaisi would launch protests.

CONGRESS CALLS FOR A BALANCED APPROACH

Senior Congress MP Ganesh Godiyal stressed that individuals who commit crimes should be treated as criminals and not the entire community should be punished for it. He stressed the need to take action against perpetrators without generalising blame.

The Congress leader also alleged that law and order was deteriorating in the state, citing incidents of large-scale thefts on the same days when President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had recently visited Uttarakhand. He also noted the rise in cases of violence against women.