In Purola rerun, Muslim families flee Chamoli after death threats | Agra News – Times of India

DEHRADUN: At least 10 families from the minority community, including a BJP functionary, in Nandanagar town, Chamoli district, have been forced to flee their homes after receiving death threats following an incident on Aug 22, when a 26-year-old man from the community allegedly made obscene gestures towards a minor Hindu girl.
Police said they are investigating the allegations and will take appropriate action based on the findings. Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar said: “A delegation representing the Muslim community met me and raised concerns about the threats. We have assured them that police will verify the allegations and take action according to the law. I have directed the inspector general of Garhwal range and the Chamoli SP to ensure communal harmony is maintained.”
The families, including govt employees who were allegedly being coerced to resign, left their homes in the middle of the night on Tuesday, walking 20km through rain and storm to reach Nandprayag town by morning.
The arrest of the accused from his native place in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, failed to calm the situation. Locals, allegedly led by members of right-wing organisations, began targeting the town’s Muslim community. On Sept 1 and 2, mobs attacked shops and a 50-year-old mosque.
Despite Chamoli police registering cases against 800 unidentified individuals under various sections of the law, including promoting enmity between communities and damaging a religious site, the attacks continued, forcing the families to leave Nandanagar. Many feared for their lives after receiving death threats from locals, who warned them to leave or face the consequences.
Ahmad Hassan, 50, president of the BJP minority cell in Nandanagar and a resident for over 30 years, was among those forced to flee. He described the panic that spread through his family and the other Muslim residents: “We were told we would be killed if they saw us the next morning. We had no choice but to leave in the dead of night, even though it was raining and the weather was terrible. We walked for 20km, hiding in bushes whenever we saw a vehicle. It was terrifying.”
Hassan, who ran a dry-cleaning shop in the town, described how his business was destroyed during the unrest: “They completely tore down my shop and looted the cash. I had withdrawn Rs 4 lakh from the bank, and there was about Rs 30,000 in the shop’s cash box. They took everything before throwing the remaining items into the Nandakini river,” he said. “I am devastated. I don’t know how I will support my family now.”
Another man, 35, whose family has lived in Nandanagar for over 90 years and five generations, shared a similar experience with TOI: “I was thrashed by the mob during the procession while trying to protect my shop. I wouldn’t have survived had two policemen not intervened. My children were inside the house, watching the violence, and some fainted from shock.”
The man added that two of his family members, who work in government jobs, had been threatened into resigning. “They work in the state education department and are afraid to return because of the threats they’ve received. We don’t know if we will ever go back to Nandanagar. We’ve lived there for five generations, but after what happened, it no longer feels like home,” he said.
Following the violence, Dehradun city Qazi Mohammed Ahmed and members of the Muslim Seva Sangathan held a press conference on Thursday, condemning the attacks on the community. “We appeal to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to intervene and take action against those responsible for this violence. The authorities must restore communal harmony in the state,” Ahmed said.
Naeem Qureshi, president of the Muslim Seva Sangathan, called for compensation for the displaced families. “They have lost everything in the violence, and the govt needs to ensure they are properly compensated for their losses,” Qureshi said.
However, members of right-wing organisations have blamed the Muslim families for the unrest, accusing them of harbouring “anti-social elements” from outside the town. Vikas Verma, a member of the state unit of the Bajrang Dal, told TOI: “These families may have lived in Nandanagar for decades, but they are involved in a conspiracy against the town. They are bringing in people from outside to commit crimes and threaten our daughters and mothers. We will not allow this to continue.”
Despite these assurances, the families who fled remain uncertain about their future. Many have sought refuge with relatives in Dehradun, while others are considering returning to their ancestral towns in Uttar Pradesh. “We don’t know what the future holds. We just want to live in peace, but after this incident, we’re not sure if that will ever be possible in Nandanagar again,” Hassan, the owner of the dry-cleaning shop, said.