500 Individuals Charged in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli Following Vandalism of Muslim-Owned Shops

Tensions escalated in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, following the alleged molestation of a minor girl by Arif Khan, a 26-year-old salon owner from Bijnor, Muslim Mirror reported yesterday.

Authorities imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, within a 200-meter radius of Nandanagar market to maintain order. Over the past 48 hours, police have booked 500 unidentified individuals for vandalism, including 200 on Tuesday after protests erupted in Gopeshwar.

The incident ignited outrage, leading to a mob vandalizing seven shops owned by Muslims, prompting the market’s closure. Locals are demanding the arrest of three alleged accomplices, while Superintendent of Police Sarvesh Panwar confirmed Khan’s arrest on Sunday. Protests continued, with villagers blocking roads and calling for justice for the victim. Demonstrators urged the District Magistrate to verify the identities of outsiders and remove those with criminal backgrounds from the area.