Heavy police and paramilitary deployment on Thursday foiled efforts by Hindutva organisations to hold a mahapanchayat against “love jihad” in Purola town of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were the prime movers behind the event, announced against the backdrop of Muslim shopkeepers being allegedly driven out of the town.
On Thursday, the administration, which had denied permission for the meeting and banned assemblies at the venue, deployed forces in the tribal town and at its boundaries to prevent any gathering or entry of outsiders.
“Only about 100 to 150 people could gather at the stadium in Purola, whereas we had expected a bigger crowd. There were more policemen than people,” Virendra Rawat, Bajrang Dal leader from Uttarkashi, told The Telegraph over the phone.
“We didn’t succeed in holding our mahapanchayat as the crowd dispersed after scuffles with the police. Thirteen of our supporters have been detained from across the district.”
Rawat added: “The police stopped our supporters from entering Purola.”