– Zaina Aman
In Chamoli’s Nandanagar, Uttarakhand, several shops owned by Muslims were vandalized on Sunday by a Hindu mob in response to allegations that a 25-year-old Muslim man made an obscene gesture towards a minor girl in the area.
The disturbance began when a procession led by the mob resulted in the targeted destruction of 5-6 Muslim-owned shops. The attackers were reportedly focused on these specific businesses during their rampage. According to Chamoli Superintendent of Police Sarvesh Panwar, items from the targeted shops were removed and the establishments were damaged.
The incident follows a complaint filed by the father of the minor girl at the Nandprayag police station. The complaint accuses Arif Khan, a local salon worker, of molesting his 14-year-old daughter on August 22. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections, including those pertaining to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Khan is currently at large, and efforts are underway to apprehend him.
In response to the violence, additional security measures have been deployed in the area.
