Video of man harassing Digambar Jain Monks in Uttarakhand for not wearing clothes goes viral, youth booked

In a recent incident in Uttarakhand, a video capturing a man harassing two Digambar Jain monks has surfaced on social media, sparking widespread outrage. The police have formed a Special Task Force to investigate the matter, as confirmed by a senior official to PTI on Tuesday.

According to Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar, the culprit, identified as a resident of the Tehri district, has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act.



In the video, the monks are peacefully seated on a roadside parapet when the man approaches them, bombarding them with questions about their choice to appear in public without clothes, a central tenet of Digambar Jain faith.

Despite the monks' attempts to explain their beliefs, the man persists in his harassment until they choose to disengage from the interaction and leave the scene.

Reacting to the video, Kumar emphasized the importance of respecting religious sentiments, stating, "The video has hurt the sentiments of Digambar Jains. Uttarakhand respects the beliefs of the followers of all religions. No disrespect to any religion can be tolerated."

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Police also took to its official X handle and informed about the legal action being taken against the youth. It said, "Taking cognizance of the video circulating on social media of a youth misbehaving with some Digambara saints, a case has been registered against the said youth under Sections 153A, 295A IPC and 67A IT Act and further legal action is being taken."

In response to the incident, the Uttarakhand Police have initiated a Special Task Force to thoroughly investigate the matter. Kumar assured that appropriate legal action will be taken against the perpetrator in due course.