A major controversy has occurred in Uttarakhand following the abduction of a minor girl by a local barber, identified as Salman, in Pauri Garhwal. The incident has not only stirred communal tensions but has also led to widespread protests among the local Hindu community, demanding justice for the victim.
The mother of the 16-year-old girl, a student in class 10, reported to the Kirtinagar police on October 28 that her daughter was being harassed by Salman, who attempted to convert her to Islam. The same day, the girl went missing, escalating community tensions. Locals, agitated by the incident, took to the streets, damaging properties and giving the police a 12-hour ultimatum to resolve the situation.
The police, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Ayush Aggarwal, initiated a detailed investigation. Surveillance footage from a local gym in Ulfada showed the girl leaving with two men later identified as Mohsin and Rakesh Bhatt.
The trail led the police to Najibabad, Uttar Pradesh, where the girl was rescued and the perpetrators, including Salman (alias Ishaan) and his relative Shan Malik (alias Imran), were arrested.
Rakesh Bhatt, a local from Ghildiyal village, was also arrested for his involvement in aiding the abduction.
The accused have been charged under the Uttarakhand Religious Freedom Act and the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. They were presented in court and subsequently jailed. Mohsin, presently absconding, is also under police pursuit.
Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, Kushum Kandwal, condemned the incident, emphasizing that such acts of ‘love jihad’ and forced religious conversion are intolerable in Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi or the land of gods. She has ensured the victim receives counseling and care at a ‘One Stop Center’. Kandwal has urged parents and law enforcement to remain vigilant against deceptive practices under the guise of friendship or love.
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