As the Haryana government undertakes punitive actions against the accused in the recent communal clashes, the state police department has slammed rumours that women devotees were sexually assaulted inside a temple in the state.
The clarification comes as rumours began doing rounds that women stranded inside Nalhar temple in Haryana's Nuh during the recent violence in the district were sexually harassed.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mamata Singh told reporters that no such incident took place during the clashes as she was present there on the spot. "A narrative is going on social media since yesterday that the day the devotees were stuck at Nalhar Mandir, gruesome crimes like rape occurred with a few women devotees there during this. I would like to tell you that this is false, a complete rumour," Mamata Singh told the reporters late on Saturday.
Singh added that strict action will be taken against such rumour-mongers. "I am saying this officially as I was present there during the entire incident. Nothing like that happened with any woman. We have already cleared that what actually happened there...Strict action will be taken against such rumour-mongers," the ADGP said.
The police also slammed social media reports that there is a Pakistan connection in the Nuh clashes. Haryana DGP PK Agrawal said there was no Pakistani connection in the incidents as mentioned in a few social media posts. "No, there is nothing like that. It is not correct to react to this immediately. We will investigate the things that have come to us and take stringent action against those who are guilty," Agrawal said.
"I have reviewed the situation here. Detailed directions in connection with cases that have been registered, the investigation and other law and order issues to speed up the pace of investigation and maintain law and order...145 arrests made here and 55 cases registered," he added.
According to the police, over 216 people have been arrested in connection with the violence-related incidents in the state.
Internet ban
The ban on mobile internet and SMS services in Nuh and Palwal has been extended till August 8 and 7, respectively.
The order in this regard was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home), T V S N Prasad on Saturday evening. "It has been brought to my notice by the deputy commissioners of Nuh that the law-and-order situation has been reviewed and intimated that conditions are still critical and tense in their respective districts.
"After assessment of the current prevailing law-and-order situation as well as recommendation of the deputy commissioner, Nuh, I am of this view that there is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in district Nuh on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours, which are being or could be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/messaging services on mobile internet services, SMS services and other dongle services," order stated.