Worship place ‘vandalised’ in Reasi; 12 suspects detained, SIT formed

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: A place of worship was allegedly vandalised by unidentified people in Reasi district, triggering protests on Sunday by locals belonging to both the Hindu and Muslim communities, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan said police have taken cognisance of the incident and assured the protesters that stern action will be taken against the culprits.
Meanwhile, District Police Reasi has detained 12 suspects in connection with case of act of vandalisation of a religious place in Darmari area of Arnas.
Case FIR no 55/ 2024 U/S 295 IPC stands registered in Police Station Arnas on getting reports of the act from Darmari Area of Arnas.
Police teams swung into action and rounded up three suspects during night hours. Series of raids continued during day time and around nine more suspects were apprehended by teams of Police station Arnas for questioning in the case.
Sensing the gravity of the case, SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of DySP Operations Reasi, who alongwith his team is stationing in Arnas area for investigation of the case on priority.
Sharing the details, SSP Reasi said that around 12 suspects round up and apprehended in the case till now for questioning and further investigations in the case is going on.
SSP appealed the people of Reasi should remain calm and should maintain peace and communal harmony in the area as Reasi Police is committed to solve the case and trace the culprit at the earliest.
The place of worship was found vandalised by a visitor in a village in the Dharmari area on Saturday evening, sparking tension and spontaneous protests, with the protesters demanding that the culprits be identified and punished.
Members of both the Hindu and Muslim communities jointly staged the protests and said such incidents are a deliberate attempt to create a rift among them to harm the age-old brotherhood in the district.
The protesters blocked the main road in the district by burning tyres and staging a sit-in, the officials said, adding that they dispersed peacefully after senior police officers told them that an FIR has been registered and efforts are on to nab the culprits.
“Anyone trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere will not be spared. It is an attempt to create hurdles and sabotage developmental activities, besides communal harmony.
“This is my guarantee…. We will not tolerate any attempt to damage peace in the district,” the Deputy Commissioner said.