Ahead of Nuh Yatra, Congress MLA's Lawyer Booked for 'Instigating' Facebook Post

Tensions Rise as Annual Hindu Procession Approaches

In a move that has further escalated tensions in Haryana's Nuh district, an FIR has been registered against a lawyer for allegedly posting "objectionable content with the intent to incite riots" ahead of the annual Jalabhishek Yatra organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The advocate, Tahir Devla, is accused of making a Facebook post that the police claim was aimed at "spreading enmity, hurting religious sentiments, provoking the public, and creating obstacles in the yatra."

The VHP's Jalabhishek Yatra is scheduled to be held on July 22 in Nuh, covering three temples in the district - Nalhar, Ferozepur Jhirka , and Singar. This annual procession has been a source of communal tensions in the past, with last year's event leading to violent clashes that resulted in six deaths.

Constable Manoj Kumar, who is stationed in the social media cell of the Cyber Crime Police Station, submitted a complaint against Devla on Sunday (July 14), following which the case was registered under sections 196, 299, 352, 300, and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Tahir Rupariya, the counsel for Devla, has stated that they will be seeking anticipatory bail in the case. "The investigating officer has sent notice and Devla will appear before district and sessions judge Sushil Kumar ," he said.

Heightened Security and Social Media Monitoring

The Nuh Superintendent of Police, Vijay Pratap , has made a public appeal urging people to refrain from posting any videos, photos, or documents on social media that could be seen as using indecent language or hurting any individual, caste, religion, or community. He warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone posting objectionable content, and added that social media is being monitored constantly.

Police have also appealed to the public to maintain communal harmony and not pay attention to any rumors, emphasizing the need for cooperation, brotherhood, and harmony among the communities.

Echoes of Last Year's Violence

The current situation in Nuh is a stark reminder of the communal violence that erupted during last year's Jalabhishek Yatra . In July 2022, clashes between participants of the procession and local residents led to six deaths, including those of Bajrang Dal members and a cleric at a mosque in Gurugram. Around 90 people were injured in the violence that spread to other parts of south Haryana as well.

As the VHP prepares to hold the yatra again this year, the local administration and police are on high alert, determined to prevent a repeat of the deadly clashes. However, the booking of a lawyer for a social media post has only added to the already tense atmosphere, underscoring the fragility of the situation and the challenges in maintaining communal harmony in the region.