Bengaluru police filed zero FIR over Haldwani ‘purification’ ritual of Uttarakhand

Bengaluru city police on Friday registered zero FIR in connection with the alleged shuddikaran (cleansing) of Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, days after Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a political rally at the site in August.

The ‘shuddikaran yagna’ incident took place on August 11 at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani. The alleged ritual, conducted by the group, followed Mr. Kharge’s political rally at the venue on August 8.

Mr. Kharge and the Congress party demanded registration of an FIR by the Haldwana police in connection with the incident. However, no FIR was filed.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, T. Ramappa, a former member of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee’s SC/ST wing, filed a complaint at the Vidhana Soudha police station in Bengaluru over the incident, alleging that the cleansing exercise had offended the community.

A senior police officer told The Hindu that the police had sought a legal opinion on registering an FIR and had received a message that they could proceed with the complaint. “A zero FIR has been registered against unknown persons and will be handed over to Haldwani police station for further action,” the officer said.

The Vidhana Soudha police filed an FIR under Section 3(1)(c). (u) of the Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which deals with a person who is not a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, promotes or attempts to promote feelings of enmity or hatred of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe. Tribes; Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between different religious, racial, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities) and Section 7 of the Civil Rights Act.

Published – 04 Sep 2026 21:35 IST