Protest erupts after detentions following communal clashes at Dehradun railway station, over 300 protesters arrested

Uttarakhand Police on Saturday (September 28) registered an FIR against 300-400 people, a day after roadblocks were held at Dehradun’s iconic clock tower to protest arrests following communal clashes and vandalism at the city’s train station earlier this week.

The communal clashes broke out at Dehradun railway station on Thursday evening (September 26) after a Muslim girl, hailing from Badaun, UP, came to the city to meet a Hindu youth.

The incident came to light after passengers at the station saw the couple arguing. RPF elements took note of this and intervened, taking the duo with them for security reasons.

The girl’s family had filed a missing person’s complaint the day before in Badaun, unaware that she had gone to Dehradun.

As soon as they received news of the situation, the UP Police informed the girl’s family, who immediately left for Dehradun.

Meanwhile, rumors of a communal incident started doing the rounds, leading to the formation of two groups at the station, one allegedly led by Bajrang Dal leader Vikas Verma and the other by Asif Qureshi, “president of Dehradun municipal unit of Azad”. Samaj festival.

The clashes eventually led to stone throwing, after which the police intervened. More than 100 people, including Vikas Verma, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Verma’s arrest, however, sparked massive outrage across the city, with hundreds of people taking to the streets to oppose the arrests made during the Dehradun stone-pelting incident.

Verma was later released by the police.

According to an FIR lodged by Dehradun Kotwali SHO Chandrabhan Singh Adhikari on Saturday, a group of unidentified people gathered at the police station gate at 12:35 p.m. on Friday, demanding withdrawal of an FIR registered against Verma under various sections – including prevention of damage to Public Property Act.

Soon the crowd swelled, with some protesters closing Paltan Bazaar and heading toward the clock tower.

According to the FIR, the protesters blocked the clock tower area, thereby affecting traffic flow. As the crowd grew to around 300 to 400 people, additional police forces were called in.

The FIR said that although many of the initial protesters dispersed following police intervention, a group continued to block roads and shout slogans against the police and the government.

Despite repeated requests from police and senior officials to clear the roads, the blockade continued, also affecting emergency services such as ambulances and fire engines, the statement said.

The situation was brought under control and the road was cleared around 4:10 p.m., the FIR said.

Also Read: Congress Misled Himachal With Lies, Now State Govt Struggles To Pay Employees’ Salaries: PM Modi To Haryana Voters