Dehradun– Uttarakhand police have registered a criminal case against 26 individuals—Harish Rawat, a local right-wing figure, and 25 others—for rioting, inciting communal disharmony, and vandalism after they stormed the home of a Muslim family in Rishikesh, reportedly targeting them over a pending criminal matter, reported the Times of India.
According to the FIR, the masked mob broke into the dwelling of Sher Mohammad while he and his family were away celebrating Eid. Inside, they damaged property and issued chilling threats, urging Muslims to “leave Uttarakhand or be killed.”
The incident was reportedly sparked by the earlier arrest on June 8 of Sher Mohammad’s son, Shoaib, along with Anshul Gandhi, in connection with the alleged rape of a minor from another community.
Responding promptly to an SOS, Sub‑Inspector Yogesh Chand Khumriyal of Shyampur checkpost and local police arrived on site, documenting the scene and registering an FIR. The case was filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 191(2) for rioting, 197(1) for acts undermining national integration, 324(4) for mischief causing damage, and 331(4) for nocturnal house-breaking.
Investigations are ongoing, with officials working to identify and apprehend the remaining suspects. Investigating Officer SI Sahil Vashishta described the incident as serious and said police are committed to bringing all involved to justice.
