Things in Purola will settle with time: Uttarakhand HC

The Uttarakhand High Court heard a petition on Thursday on the communal tension in Purola town and said things will settle with time as it is the best healer.

The court also expressed satisfaction with the steps being taken by the state government to maintain law and order in the hill town.

The state government has issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in Purola to prevent a ''mahapanchayat'' called by local trade bodies and Hindutva outfits on Thursday over alleged incidents of ''love jihad''.

However, the call for the ''mahapanchayat'' was withdrawn by the organisers late on Wednesday night.

The petition filed by advocate Shahrukh Alam on behalf of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, seeking prevention of the ''mahapanchayat'' as it could disturb communal harmony, was heard by a division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal.

While the state is working towards maintaining law and order in the area, things will settle down with time as it is the best healer, the court said.

It further said all the communities have been living in harmony for centuries and will continue to do so.

Tension has been brewing in Purola in Uttarkashi district for more than a fortnight since a foiled attempt by two men to abduct a girl.