Three cases have been registered following rumours spread in the social media regarding alleged molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor by persons from another community at Agastyamuni in Rudraprayag district. Following the spread of the purported rumours, people protested and even burned some shops on Friday. Rudraprayag SP in-charge Tripti Bhatt said that police teams consisting of senior police officers have been formed to investigate the case. Some team members are reviewing CCTV footage and video clips while some are monitoring social networking sites to identity the persons involved in spreading rumour about the same, Bhatt said.
It is learnt that rumour of 10- year old girl being gang- raped by persons of another community was circulated on the social networking sites on April 6. Bhatt said that the names of persons mentioned were fictitious and the motive was to foment communal tension. She appealed the people to maintain peace without being provoked by rumour-mongering. “Three cases have been registered,” she added.