Uttarkashi: Death threats received, claims the founder of an organization that puts up posters on shops

Uttarakhand News: In Purola town of Uttarkashi district, which is prone to communal tension, the matter of allegedly threatening posters on shops run by Muslims is gaining momentum. Now Swami Darshan Bharti, the founder of ‘Dev Bhoomi Raksha Abhiyan’, an organization pasting posters, has claimed on Friday that he has received death threats.

Bharti has claimed that she received a letter on June 14 threatening to behead him and offering a reward of Rs 5 crore to the person who does so. He said that the letter was in a paper bag filled with stones and was thrown in his residential premises. He told that he has handed over this letter to the police.

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FIR registered
Meanwhile, a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against Bharti at the Barkot police station in connection with the pasting of the posters in Purola market. Inspector-in-charge Gajendra Bahuguna said that Bharti has been asked to record her statement in this regard at the police station on June 25. He said that he has also been asked to cooperate in the investigation and not destroy any evidence.

Markets remained closed in Purola and other nearby towns on Thursday in protest against the enforcement of prohibitory orders by the district administration to stop the proposed ‘Mahapanchayat’ in Purola in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand over alleged incidents of ‘love jihad’. Due to tension in Purola, a large number of policemen were deployed. It may be noted that the situation in the Yamuna Valley of Uttarkashi district has remained tense since a fortnight ago on May 26, when a Hindu minor girl was allegedly abducted by a youth from another community.

What was the matter?
However, this attempt to kidnap the girl was foiled by the local people. After the incident, threatening posters were pasted on the shutters of shops belonging to minority communities asking them to leave the town immediately. These posters, allegedly pasted by ‘Dev Bhoomi Raksha Abhiyan’, warned ‘love jihadis’ to leave Purola before the mahapanchayat on June 15 or face dire consequences. But, later the mahapanchayat was postponed in view of the pressure from the local administration.

Bharti insisted that the mahapanchayat has not been cancelled, it has only been postponed further. He claimed, “Mahapanchayat will be held. The struggle against love-jihadists will continue.” Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad, while demanding strict action against the one who threatened to behead Bharti, said that saints and seers are with Bharti.

Mahant Ravindra Puri said, “We are with Bharti. Bharti has not only fought against love-jihad but also fought many battles in the interest of Uttarakhand. Those who threatened him should be identified and punished.