Communal tension flared in parts of Uttarakhand’s Nainital after the arrest of a Muslim man for allegedly sexually harassing a Hindu minor girl, leading to incidents of vandalism targeting shops and a mosque, prompting authorities to tighten security in the area.
On April 12, the family of a minor in Uttarakhand’s Nainital filed a rape complaint against 65-year-old contractor Usman, and an FIR under the POCSO Act after the victim’s mother brought her to the police station on Wednesday leading to his arrest.
Following the arrest, around 9:30 pm on Wednesday, a group of men, including members of Hindutva groups, gathered near the market where the accused had an office and vandalised shops and eateries belonging to the Muslim community.
In a video that surfaced, some men were seen slapping staff members at these establishments.
The crowd also staged protests in front of a mosque, pelting stones at it, and later demonstrated outside the local police station.
A man named “Usman” was accused of rape in Nainital, Uttarakhand, Police arrested accused.
But mob pelted stones at the Mosque in Nainital.
Question is whether any action will be taken against who pelted stones at the Mosque? pic.twitter.com/OxcC1ZkTBJ— هارون خان (@iamharunkhan) May 1, 2025
On Thursday, people took to the streets, shouting slogans, while most schools, colleges, and markets remained closed in response to the ongoing tension.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
