• Source:JND

Haldwani Purification Row: Nainital Police has registered another FIR in connection with the alleged purification ritual at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan. The FIR was registered at Haldwani Kotwali on the complaint of Congress worker Anju. The case has been registered under Sections 196 and 299 of the BNS, along with Section 3(1)(R) of the SC/ST Act.

Police Received 80 Complaints

Speaking to ANI, Nainital SSP Manjunath TC said the case has been handed over to SP Crime Jagdish Chandra. He stated the police had received 80 complaints and petitions from across Uttarakhand in connection with the matter. Of these, 19 were from the Nainital district. After examining the complaints legally, police found that social activist and lawyer Anju from Haldwani was the first person to submit a formal written complaint at Haldwani Kotwali.

FIR Filed Against Unknown Persons

She had also provided videos related to the incident to the Station House Officer and other officials. Based on her complaint, police registered an FIR against unknown persons today. SSP Manjunath said, “We received various petitions and applications from organisations, political parties... across the state concerning the alleged events at Ramlila Maidan on the 10th, specifically the cleaning, rituals, and the alleged purification ceremony.”

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He added, “We were conducting a legal review of all these applications. During this legal scrutiny, we learned that a social activist and lawyer from Haldwani, Anju had been the first to lodge a formal written complaint at the Haldwani Kotwali police station; she had also provided relevant videos to the Station House Officer and other officials. Consequently, based on her formal complaint, we have today registered an FIR against unknown persons.”

Congress MPs March To Parliament PS

He also appealed to all those who submitted applications in Haldwani or elsewhere in Uttarakhand to note that the investigation is currently underway. The FIR comes amid Congress’ repeated demands for an FIR against those who carried out the purification of the Ramlila Maidan following Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's rally on August 8.

On Tuesday, Several Congress MPs, including Mallu Ravi, Vamsi Gaddam and other leaders had reached the Parliament Street Police Station in Delhi to demand the registration of an FIR i. Earlier, a Zero FIR was registered at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station against Uttarakhand BJP members and others based on a complaint by Congress functionary TR Ramappa.

Uttarakhand HC Dismisses PIL

Previously on Monday, the Uttarakhand High Court had disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) related to the purification ritual at Haldwani. During the hearing, the state government informed the court that two FIRs had been registered in connection with the matter. One FIR was registered in Haldwani, while the other was a Zero FIR registered in Bengaluru based on media reports. The court was informed that the Bengaluru Zero FIR would be transferred to Haldwani for investigation.

ALSO READ: 'This Transcends My Personal Self': Kharge Writes To Nadda, Seeks FIR In Haldwani 'Purification' Row


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