Communal tension grips Uttarakhand town after ‘offensive’ FB post on Kedarnath

Communal tension gripped an Uttarakhand town on Sunday as activists of Bajrang Dal and other right-wing organisations vandalised a vegetable shop belonging to family of a minor boy who allegedly posted an ‘offensive’ picture of the Kedarnath shrine on Facebook.

Police said additional forces were sent to Satpuli town, in the state’s Garhwal district to prevent further flare-up.

Reinforcements were sent from nearby Kotdwar city and district headquarter Pauri, superintendent of police (SP) Jagatram Joshi said, adding they have zeroed in on the minor boy who shared the post.

“We are trying to nab the one who originally posted the inflammatory picture of the Kedarnath shrine and normalise the situation. The district magistrate is also rushing to the spot,” the SP told HT over the phone.

According to an eyewitness account, several right-wing activists swooped on the shop and burnt the vegetable boxes kept there while shouting pro-Hindu slogans

“They were also searching for the vegetable vendor who had fled the shop, ”said Pawan Negi, an eyewitness.

A Bajrang Dal worker in a video, filmed by an eyewitness, said they will continue the protest unless the culprit is arrested.

Satpuli, a quaint town some 150kms from the state capital Dehradun has no history of communal tension in the past.

“Four to five Muslim families have been living in the town for long without any incident of communal violence,” the SP said.

Last month few boys were booked in the state’s Mussoorie for allegedly raising anti-India slogan after Pakistan trounced India in the ICC Championship.

(With inputs from Arvind Moudgil)