Demanding withdrawal of cases registered against members of some organisations following communal tension in Raiwala and Rishikesh, hundreds of Bajrang Dal activists staged a demonstration in Rishikesh on Monday. Meanwhile, SP Rural Sarita Dobhal said on the same day that things were fast returning to normalcy in the violence-hit areas.
“Nevertheless, we are alert. At some places, Section 144 of CrPC continues to be in force and things would remain so till complete normalcy is not restored,” she said. She further said that four persons had been arrested for indulging in arson and the like. “Cases have been registered at several police stations based in Raiwala and Rishikesh in connection with the violence,” she said.
The right-wing activists led by Satveer Tomar demanded transfer of the police officers who allegedly failed to control the situation after the unrest erupted. He alleged that cases have been registered against members of some groups despite the protest remaining peaceful. They also submitted a memorandum to Rishikesh sub-divisional magistrate on the matter.
Notably, communal violence and arson had flared up in Raiwala and later spread to Rishikesh and some parts of Haridwar late last week following the recovery of a mutilated body from railway tracks.