Nahan (HP), Oct 29 (PTI) The Sirmaur district magistrate on Thursday withdrew the prohibitory orders imposed across Nahan town following the October 23 communal violence at Valmiki Chowk, citing improvement in the law and order situation.
District Magistrate Priyanka Verma imposed the prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) on the night of October 26.
Sirmaur Superintendent of Police (SP) Nishchit Singh Negi on Thursday said the order was lifted after a review of the law-and-order situation across Nahan, including Valmiki Chowk.
The decision was also taken to facilitate the convenient movement of the public as the festival of Karwa Chauth falls on October 29, he said, adding that increased footfall is expected in the markets.
The SP said that the police acted promptly to initiate legal proceedings regarding the violence between the two groups in Nahan. Based on digital and other evidence, the rioters have been identified, and 11 individuals from both groups were arrested.
Tensions flared on October 23, when some Sikh residents of the Gobindgarh locality were attempting to install a ‘welcome gate’, which residents of the Valmiki community opposed.
According to the police, the dispute escalated into stone-pelting and a violent clash, injuring 14 people, including Nahan Sadar police station Station House Officer Kulbir Singh and two other police personnel.
A case was registered under sections 191(2), 191(3), 190, 132, 121(1) and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Negi said the police investigation was progressing rapidly, and efforts were underway to identify other individuals involved, using technical and other forms of evidence.
No one found to be involved in this incident will be spared, the officer added.
Negi said that despite an improvement in the law-and-order situation, the police are continuing to patrol the affected area and maintain a close watch on the overall situation.
“An adequate police force will remain deployed in the area to maintain communal harmony and law and order. Necessary preventive measures, including the monitoring of sensitive locations and the management of traffic, will continue,” he said.
He appealed to the public to maintain peace and mutual brotherhood, disregard rumours, and refrain from posting or forwarding inflammatory or misleading content on social media.
