mobanmarketFollowing a series of violent incidents in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, mostly involving tourists from neighbouring Punjab, the High Court has directed the state government to file a status report on the matter.
A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sabina and Justice Satyen Vaidya on Friday issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), Director General of Police (DGP), Deputy Commissioners of Kullu and Bilaspur, and Superintendents of Police (SP) of Kullu and Bilaspur, and listed the case for hearing on March 13.
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Violence in Manikaran
The HC’s suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) followed news reports that tourists from Punjab went on a rampage in Manikaran on the night of March 5 and a “riot-like situation” was witnessed as over 100 “hooligans” from Punjab, carrying flags, created a “ruckus”.
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Tourists from Punjab created ruckus in Himachal’s Manikaran last night.
Goons attacked people, pelted stone at cars and residence buildings. pic.twitter.com/9lIe3XVViE
— Woke Janta (@WokeJanta) March 6, 2023
The court cited another report which stated that after the incident at Manikaran, hundreds of devotees from Punjab gathered on the afternoon of March 6 and created a ruckus at Garamor in Bilaspur district and the Chandigarh-Manali national highway was closed for about one and a half hours.
According to police, four people were injured in the clash between pilgrims from neighbouring Punjab and local people during a fair in Manikaran on the night of March 5.
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Vehicles, houses, buildings damaged
Parked vehicles bearing Punjab and Himachal Pradesh registration numbers were damaged and pilgrims pelted stones at houses, the police had said.
Videos of the unrest were viral on social media. Many parked vehicles and a nearby police station were pelted with stones.
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Following the incident, scores of pilgrims from Punjab blocked the road at Garha Maura in Bilaspur, alleging that Himachal Pradesh Police were harassing them.
Case registered for rioting
A case has been registered in Manikaran under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Indian Penal Code and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, the police said.
As per info, some Sikh pilgrims visited Sri Manikaran Sahib and pelted stones, attacked locals with swords. Why? pic.twitter.com/7lAahJzJyR
— Taruni Gandhi (@TaruniGandhi) March 6, 2023
The DGP has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DIG-Central Range, Mandi, to investigate the incidents.
Religious significance of Manikaran
Manikaran, located in the Kullu district, is a Hindu and Sikh pilgrimage centre.
Every year many Sikh pilgrims, mainly from Punjab, visit the Gurudwara Manikaran Sahib due to its association with the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak.
Manikaran also has significance in Hinduism and is home to several ancient Hindu temples.
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