Lathi charge, stone pelting leave dozens injured during rally against controversial mosque in U’kashi
Thursday, 24 October 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Dozens of persons were injured due to stone pelting and a police lathi charge to disperse members of Sanyukt Sanatan Dharm Rakshak Dal and locals during a massive rally on Thursday in Uttarkashi in opposition to a mosque, which they claimed was being constructed illegally at the base of Varunawat mountain.
Despite the Uttarkashi district administration issuing a Press release clarifying that the mosque was not built on government land, the group reportedly refused to accept the official statement. When the protesters reached police barricades, a heated confrontation reportedly occurred. Protesters reportedly began pelting stones at the police due to which the police started a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.
Following the police action, some protesters allegedly vandalised street vendors and carts belonging to traders from the minority community. The police also deployed more forces at various locations to maintain order. According to the sources, the police had set up barricades at three locations while deploying a large force to prevent any unrest in anticipation of the protest. However, the situation got bad by evening.
Several police officers and locals got injured after the rally reportedly turned into a clash between the protesters and police. The leader of the Sanyukt Sanatan Dharm Rakshak Dal, Swami Darshan Bharti, also sustained some injuries. Some protesters claimed that they had asked to meet the Uttarkashi district magistrate regarding the issue but he reportedly refused to meet them. Bharti claimed that when the police started a lathi charge, some persons started pelting stones at the protesters.
The protesters further said that more than 200 of the approximately 300 persons affected by the Varunawat landslide had received compensation from the government so such land could not be used for construction. They also said that Varunawat is considered sacred by the Hindus who circumambulate the mountain. Considering these factors, it is not proper to construct a mosque at the location, they said.
