Communal tension erupted in Uttarakhand's Nainital on Wednesday night after a 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 60-year-old man. This angered the locals and triggered protests and vandalism in the area.
According to police, the accused, identified as Osman, who is a contractor by profession, has been arrested. However, there was heavy deployment of forces to ensure law and order in the area following the protest.
Protests broke out in Nainital after news about the minor girl being taken for a medical examination following the alleged sexual assault spread at around 8:00 PM on Wednesday night.
A report by news agency PTI stated that members of some Hindu outfits staged demonstrations outside the police station demanding strict action against the accused. They also vandalised some shops owned by members of the Muslim community and hurled stones at a nearby mosque, police said.
The crowd raised slogans against Pakistan, damaged vehicles, and pelted stones at houses in the locality, shattering their window panes.
Police Says Situation Under Control, Accused Held
Senior officials, including Superintendent of Police (City) Jagdish Chandra, intervened in the matter to help difuse the situation. They assured the protesters that strict action would be taken against the accused.
However, the demonstrations continued past midnight, prompting police to intensify patrolling till 2:00 AM in order to prevent any further escalation, PTI reported.
SP Chandra said that heavy police deployment has been made across the city to maintain peace. "We brought the situation under control at around 12:30am. Heavy deployment of police is in place. We will not allow anybody to take the law into their hands and strict action will be taken if anybody does so," he said.
After the incident came to light, a first information report was registered on Wednesday against a building contractor for allegedly raping the minor girl in his car on April 12.
The FIR was filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section 65 (1) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) at Mallital police station. Thereafter, the accused was arrested, Hindustan Times reported.