A video showing a man harassing two Digambar Jain monks in Uttarakhand has gone viral on social media. In response, the police have formed a Special Task Force to investigate the incident, as confirmed by a senior official on Tuesday.
The perpetrator is a resident of Tehri district and has been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, according to Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar.
In the video, the monks are seen sitting on a roadside parapet while the man stands in front of them, pestering them with questions about why they move in public without clothes. The monks try to explain, but when he remains unconvinced, they refuse to answer any more questions and leave.
For Digambar Jain monks, not wearing clothes is central to their faith. “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,” Kumar stated.
A Special Task Force of the Uttarakhand Police will investigate the matter, and appropriate legal action will soon be taken against the man, Kumar added.
