On the night of Thursday, 26th September, chaos broke out at the Dehradun railway station in Uttarakhand when a large, agitated Muslim mob stormed the area after discovering a meeting between a young Muslim girl and her Hindu lover. The incident quickly escalated into violence, creating a tense atmosphere at the station.

According to reports, the girl involved in the incident was a minor who had travelled all the way from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, to meet her lover. When the Muslim community learned of the situation, many reacted with outrage. Led by Asif Qureshi, the President of the Azad Samaj Party (Dehradun unit), the mob descended upon the railway station, resulting in a violent scene.

The Muslim mob, driven by their anger, began pelting stones and vandalising trains, causing widespread damage to the property. The situation at the station grew more volatile as tension mounted between the two communities.

Meanwhile, groups of Hindu men, who had heard about the events unfolding, arrived at the station to confront the mob. The group of Hindus was led by Vikas Verma, and a clash between the two sides ensued. The atmosphere turned hostile, with both sides engaging in violent confrontations, further heightening the tension at the railway station.

In the aftermath of the clash, eight two-wheelers and a police vehicle were destroyed amidst the chaos. The situation prompted the local authorities to take swift action. The police arrived at the scene immediately after being informed of the riot to try and bring the escalating violence under control.

A large contingent of police, led by SSP Ajay Singh, swiftly took control of the escalating situation at the Dehradun railway station, restoring peace and order in the area. The presence of the police was critical in calming the frenzied crowd that had gathered at the station following the news of the interfaith relationship.

SSP Singh provided details of the incident, saying, “As per what we know so far, a minor girl from Badaun came to Dehradun to meet some person here. There is already a missing person’s report registered in Badaun. The police also informed the GRP (government railway police) based on the girl’s location and provided her details…” The police had already been alerted about the girl’s disappearance, and her presence at the Dehradun railway station brought further clarity to the ongoing search.

While the police were busy collecting information from the girl at the railway office, the situation took a more volatile turn. News spread quickly that the incident involved an interfaith couple, which led to a heated reaction from the local community. Some individuals began to gather at the station, engaging in arguments as tensions rose. The police were immediately informed, and they reached the station in an attempt to de-escalate the growing confrontation.

However, the situation rapidly spiraled out of control. The confrontation escalated when certain members of the crowd resorted to pelting stones and causing damage to property. Several two-wheelers were vandalized, worsening the chaotic atmosphere. The police acted swiftly and decisively, dispersing the crowd before more damage could be done.

In a bid to ensure that no further violence or unrest occurred, the police conducted foot marches in and around the Dehradun railway station. Their efforts were aimed at maintaining peace and preventing any possible flare-ups in the aftermath of the incident. The police presence in the area provided reassurance to the local community, who were understandably concerned about the disturbances.

He further explained the situation, saying, “Meanwhile, the matter escalated somehow and both Hindu and Muslim organisations confronted each other. There was a ruckus and some stone pelting. The situation is under control and we have deployed heavy police force in the area.” The clash between the two groups, which started as an argument, quickly turned into a more intense altercation with both sides engaging in stone pelting, adding to the already volatile atmosphere.

The senior police official, aware of the critical nature of the situation, took the initiative to engage directly with the mob. He appealed to them to return home, trying to calm the growing tension. Despite the earlier violence, his intervention helped ease the situation somewhat, as the crowd began to disperse. However, the damage had already been done, and the authorities were now focusing on identifying those responsible for the riot.

To get to the bottom of the matter, the police began analysing the CCTV footage from around the railway station to identify the rioters involved in the stone pelting and vandalism. This was crucial for taking further legal action against those who participated in the violence. The investigation was not limited to footage alone, as the police also gathered information from eyewitnesses and others present at the scene.

Following their investigation, the authorities registered a case at the Kotwali Nagar police station against both named and unidentified individuals involved in the unrest. The charges were filed under relevant sections, reflecting the seriousness of the crimes committed during the riot.

Given the scale of the unrest, heavy deployment of police remained in place in and around the Dehradun railway station to ensure that no further disturbances would occur. The police were taking every measure to prevent any resurgence of violence. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Singh was personally present at the location, overseeing the situation and ensuring that order was fully restored.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) spoke directly with the agitated crowd, attempting to calm them and urging them to return home, as reported by The Indian Express. His appeal was part of the police’s broader effort to de-escalate the volatile situation at the Dehradun railway station, where emotions had run high following the interfaith confrontation.

In the course of their investigation, the police took decisive legal action. They have booked over 100 people in connection with the riot, including Vikas Verma, Asif Qureshi, Rohit Maurya, Sunny, Rajesh, Shoaib, Nawab Qureshi, Itad Khan, Aqib, Taufiq Khan, Arsh, Siddhant Badoni, Aman Swedia, and Anil. These individuals were identified as key participants in the violent incident that unfolded at the station. The police have taken this step to ensure accountability for the damage caused and to prevent such events from recurring.

The charges against them are serious, with the individuals being booked under several provisions of the law. They were charged under BNS Sections 191(2) (rioting), 221 (obstructing a public servant from discharging his duties), 223 (disobedience of order passed by public servant), 324(4) (damaging property), and the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act Section 7. These sections cover a range of offenses, from rioting and obstructing law enforcement to causing damage to property, making it clear that the authorities are taking a firm stance against such criminal activity.

The charges reflect the gravity of the situation, with the rioters now facing serious legal consequences for their involvement in the violence and vandalism at the railway station.