Pointers:
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Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district has become a hub of communal tension.
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Attempts to alter demography fuel unrest in the region.
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A recent case involves a minor Hindu girl’s abduction and alleged conversion.
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Three incidents of inflammatory social media posts worsened the atmosphere.
Is Himachal Pradesh, like its neighboring state Uttarakhand, facing attempts to alter its demographic composition? This can also be linked to population growth. In recent years, while locals in many small and large towns of the state are being marginalized, people from other states are accused of spreading cultural pollution.
Efforts to disrupt communal harmony are evident across Himachal. Violence over water in Mandi and alleged abductions and forced conversions of minor Hindu girls in Paonta, Solan, Kinnaur, and Rampur are creating tensions between communities.
In Paonta, three cases involving inflammatory social media posts have soured the atmosphere. The unrest began in February 2010 with a cow slaughter case in Shimla’s Nerwa, sparking days of protests. Even small towns like Paonta are now seeing rising communal friction. The latest incident involves the alleged forced conversion of a Hindu girl. A week ago, a Muslim vegetable vendor with pro-Pakistan sentiments was arrested. Here’s an exclusive report on four cases from Paonta.
A Look at Four Criminal Cases in Paonta That Sparked Tensions
Paonta Sahib in Himachal’s Sirmaur district has emerged as a center of communal tension. Locals claim this is an attempt to alter the town’s demography. Over the past year (2024-25), four incidents in Paonta have disrupted communal harmony, leading to protests, demonstrations, and heightened tensions.
On June 5, 2025, a minor Hindu girl went missing from the Majra area. Her family accused a Muslim youth, Mohsin, of abducting her and forcibly converting her religion. This violates the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act 2022. During protests, police resorted to a baton charge. Locals allege police bias.
On June 9, 2025, police arrested Suleman Khan for posting anti-national content on Facebook. The 45-year-old is a resident of Saharanpur.
On May 22, 2022, Sirmaur Police detained Naseem Naaz and Armaan Malik (alias Mehboob) for posting offensive remarks against Lord Shiva on social media. They compared a Shivling to a toilet seat and mocked Hindus celebrating the Shivling’s discovery in Uttar Pradesh’s Gyanvapi Masjid. This incident in Paonta Sahib, Sirmaur, fueled tensions due to provocative posts.
In June 2024, Savej Qureshi, a 32-year-old Muslim cloth merchant in Paonta Sahib, sparked controversy. His WhatsApp status showing an animal sacrifice during Eid led to rumors of cow slaughter, triggering protests and communal tension in Sirmaur district.
