The Uttarakhand High Court has instructed the police to maintain law and order, prevent the mob from gathering and investigate vehicles after taking automatic cognizance of the tension prevailing here after the alleged rape of a 12 -year -old girl by an elderly person.
A division bench of Senior Judge Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Judge Vivek Bharti Sharma on Thursday asked the officials to monitor the internet to stop the rumors.
Communal tension spread after a 60 -year -old man from a minority community in Nainital allegedly sexually assaulted the girl. Accused contractor Usman has been arrested.
The court further said that to maintain peace and order, the police should issue an appeal to the people and intensify the patrolling to ensure that a violent situation like Banbhulpura region of Haldwani does not arise in Nainital.
In February last year, there were several incidents of violence after a madrasa was demolished in Banbhulpura area. Deputy Advocate General JS Virk told the court that a large number of police forces have been deployed in Nainital to maintain peace and vehicles coming from Haldwani, Kaladhungi and Bhimtal towards Nainital are being investigated.
Following the directions of the court, District Magistrate Vandana Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena issued several instructions and public appeals to maintain peace.
Members of some Hindu organizations demonstrated outside the police station on Wednesday demanding strict action against the accused. Some shops of Muslim community were vandalized and stones were also thrown at the nearby mosque. The protesters also demanded that the accused be hanged. The Board of Trade also closed its shops demanding a severe punishment for the accused.
