Hate Speech At Haridwar Event To Be Investigated By A 5-Member Special Probe Team

The matter of suspected hate speech presented during the 'Dharma Sansad' held in Haridwar has been investigated by a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT). According to the Garhwal deputy inspector general, Karan Singh Nagnyal, the SIT would be led by a superintendent of police, and legal action would be taken against anyone found guilty.

"A 5-member SIT has been constituted under an SP-level officer to probe the matter of the Dharma Sansad hate speech case in Haridwar. Legal action to be taken against those found guilty," Karan Singh Nagnyal, the Garhwal Deputy Inspector General (DIG), remarked.

Officials stated on Saturday that two additional names — Yati Narasimhanand and Sindhu Sagar — had been added to an FIR filed in connection with the Haridwar gathering where remarks inciting violence against Muslims were reportedly given. From December 16 to 18, a three-day festival was held at Haridwar's Ved Niketan Dham.

Apart from Section 153A, the FIR now includes Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code (destruction or damage to a place of worship or a holy item) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language).

Director-General of Police, Uttarakhand, Ashok Kumar said, "On the basis of the viral video clip, two more names, Sagar Sindhu Maharaj and Yati Narsinghanand Giri have been added to the FIR in the Dharma Sansad hate speech case, upon further investigation. Section 295A has been included in the FIR."

Dharm Das, Annapurna, Wasim Rizvi alias Jitendra Tyagi, and others have been arrested in the case, according to the police. The officer, however, declined to explain why the additional section was added to the FIR, claiming that it was a component of the inquiry that could not be revealed over the phone.

Yati Narasimhanand, the divisive Dasna temple priest, has escaped the investigation thus far.

After converting to Hinduism, Rizvi, who was formerly the president of the Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board, changed his identity to Jitendra Narayan Tyagi.