Uttarkashi: District Magistrate Meherban Singh Bisht has invoked Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code to impose prohibitory orders starting the evening of October 24, until further notice.
This decision follows a violent incident during a rally organized by right-wing groups questioning the legality of a mosque, which led to injuries among several individuals, including police officers, in Uttarakhand on Thursday, October 24, 2024. In response to the aggressive actions of the protesters, who hurled stones at law enforcement, the police resorted to lathi-charge to control the situation and restore order.
According to this section, individuals will be prohibited from entering the area with any sharp weapons or firearms, including items such as lathis, dandas, knives, and spears. However, security personnel tasked with maintaining peace, as well as disabled government employees who require a stick for mobility, will be exempt from this restriction.
Shops in Uttarkashi, Dunda, Bhatwadi, and Joshiyada remained closed in solidarity with the ‘Jan Akrosh’ rally organized by Sanyukt Hindu Sangathan on Thursday. The demonstrators claimed that the mosque located in the Barahat area was illegally constructed on government property.
In contrast, the district administration asserted that the mosque is an old structure built on land belonging to the Muslim community. Uttarkashi SP Amit Srivastava mentioned that the incident occurred around 2:30 PM, noting that the protest route was predetermined and barricades had been erected. Nevertheless, the protesters insisted on advancing towards the mosque.
To prevent the protestors from causing disturbances, the administration set up barricades on the Gangotri National Highway heading towards Bhatwadi. This led to a tense exchange between the demonstrators and the police over the removal of the barricades, which the police refused to allow.