Uttarakhand SIT Makes Progress in Kotdwar Shop Naming Controversy
A special investigation team (SIT) constituted by Pauri Garhwal Senior Superintendent of Police Sarvesh Panwar has made significant headway in the sensitive Kotdwar shop naming row. The team has successfully identified at least fourteen of the forty previously unidentified Bajrang Dal members who are allegedly involved in the case, according to official statements.
Evidence Gathering and Identification Process
"We identified them after closely examining CCTV footage and recording statements of witnesses. We are collecting concrete evidence before summoning them for questioning and taking further action as per legal provisions," stated Pauri Deputy Superintendent of Police Tushar Vohra. DSP Vohra is leading the five-member SIT that is meticulously building the case.
The core of the controversy revolves around allegations that members of the Bajrang Dal pressured an elderly Muslim shopkeeper to alter the name of his establishment. The situation escalated later with an aggressive demonstration held in the town on January 31st.
Details of the Three Registered FIRs
Of the three First Information Reports (FIRs) central to this investigation, one was registered by police taking suo motu cognizance against forty unidentified Bajrang Dal members. The accused are alleged to have gathered outside the gym and residence of a man named Deepak Kumar.
Kumar had earlier confronted some members of the group on January 26th while attempting to protect the elderly shopkeeper from the alleged pressure. Police reports indicate that the accused Bajrang Dal members allegedly blocked National Highway-534 while raising provocative communal slogans directed at Kumar. They are further accused of assaulting police personnel who were deployed at the scene to control the volatile situation.
Police Commitment to Legal Action
SSP Sarvesh Panwar emphasized the police department's resolve in this matter. "Police would identify all the accused and take appropriate legal action. Nobody will be spared for disturbing law and order. A chargesheet will be filed in a timely manner," he asserted, underscoring a commitment to due process.
The second FIR pertains directly to the January 26th incident where Deepak Kumar confronted the Bajrang Dal members at the shop. Following this altercation, a Bajrang Dal member filed a counter-complaint against Kumar, accusing him of assault and criminal intimidation.
The third FIR was registered based on a formal complaint filed by the shopowner himself against members of the right-wing organization, adding another layer to the legal proceedings.
The SIT's identification of fourteen individuals marks a crucial step in an investigation that has drawn significant public and media attention, highlighting tensions and the enforcement of law and order in the region.
