Tension prevailed in Dehradun’s Patel Nagar on Tuesday night after an alleged derogatory social media post against Prophet Mohammad triggered widespread protests, forcing the police to step in and carry out a flag march to restore calm.
According to police, the controversy erupted after a 19-year-old youth, Gulshan Singh, a resident of Patel Nagar originally from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly shared a screenshot containing objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad on Monday. The post, which went viral, sparked outrage among members of a particular community.
Pramod Shah, in charge of the Bazaar police post in Patel Nagar, promptly registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 196-1 (promoting enmity), 302 (hurting religious sentiments), and 29. Singh was detained for questioning, and the offensive post was removed.
Despite police action, the situation escalated when nearly 800 protestors gathered near the police post on Tuesday night. The crowd reportedly blocked the road, shouted provocative slogans, and attempted to stoke communal unrest. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh said reinforcements were rushed from nearby police stations, and mild force had to be used to disperse the mob and prevent escalation.
A separate case was also registered against the unidentified protestors under sections 121-2 (causing hurt to public servant), 126-2 (wrongful restraint), 190, 191-2 (unlawful assembly), 196, and 302 of the BNS for attempting to disrupt law and order.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami strongly condemned the incident, warning that religious fanaticism and anarchy would not be tolerated in Uttarakhand. “Strict action has been taken against those who created unrest in Patel Nagar and tried to vitiate the atmosphere of the state,” he said.
Police have urged citizens to maintain peace and avoid spreading rumours, stating that the situation is tense but under control.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.
