India

Muslim traders threatned in Uttarakhand’s Purola, asked to leave town

A panoramioc view of Purola rown of Uttarakhand. Photo: [Photo: Uttarakhandtriptrek.com]

In the Uttarkashi region of Uttarakhand’s Purola town, threatening posters demanding that Muslim traders quit the area immediately have been put up.

The posters came days after two people, including a person from a minority community, tried to abduct a minor girl from the area. This incident has been referred to as a case of ‘love jihad’.

While, police arrested Ubed Khan, 24, a local shopkeeper, and Jitender Saini, 23, a motorcycle mechanic on May 27 for the alleged abduction attempt, posters appeared on the shutters of the shops late on Sunday evening.

A massive protest was also taken out demanding that Muslim traders shut shops and depart by June 15. The protestors also pulled down boards of shops identifying those with Muslim names.

The Muslim traders expressed fear of opening their shops and claimed that some people have left the town. There are 650-700 shops in Purola’s main market, of which 30-40 are owned by Muslims.

Meanwhile, Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi said that the posters are removed and the anti-social elements who pasted them are being identified. The police also held meetings with the local Vyapar Mandal and public representatives and appealed to them to maintain law and order.

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