Tension rose in Dehradun's Patel Nagar area after a social media post allegedly containing derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad triggered protests. In response, the police conducted a flag march to maintain peace.
Officials said people were urged to stay calm and warned against any attempts to disturb communal harmony. The situation, which started Tuesday night when people took to the streets, remained tense but under control.
According to officials, a screenshot with offensive comments about Prophet Muhammad was shared on social media on Monday by 19-year-old Gulshan Singh, a resident of Patel Nagar originally from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh.
Pramod Shah, in-charge of the Bazaar police post in Patel Nagar, registered a case against Gulshan under Sections 196-1 (promoting enmity), 302 (hurting religious feelings), and 29 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Gulshan Singh was detained for questioning, and the post was removed.
Soon after, around 800 people from the community gathered near the police post and created a disturbance, said Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh.
"They blocked the road, raised provocative religious slogans, and were attempting to stoke communal tension. Police from nearby police stations were immediately called in. Fearing that the law and order situation could escalate, the crowd was dispersed using mild force," he said.
A case has been filed against the unidentified mob for attempting to incite communal discord and disrupt peace, under sections 121-2 (causing hurt to public servant), 126-2 (wrongful restraint), 190, 191-2 (unlawful assembly), 196, and 302 of the BNS.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state would not tolerate any form of religious fanaticism or anarchy. "Strict action has been taken against those who created anarchy in Patel Nagar, Dehradun, and are trying to vitiate the atmosphere of the state," he said.
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