Two groups clash in Mussoorie; cross FIRs filed

Mussoorie: Tension gripped Mussoorie on Thursday after a late-night clash between taxi drivers and sanitation workers following a minor collision between a taxi and a waste collection vehicle near Picture Palace.Police said the dispute escalated into a physical altercation, with sanitation workers alleging that they were assaulted by taxi drivers and subjected to caste-based slurs.On Thursday morning, sanitation workers staged a protest and blocked the Mall Road near Jhoolaghar, leading to heavy traffic congestion in the town. Police later intervened and cleared the road.“Two workers engaged in waste collection were returning from work when taxi drivers beat them after a minor altercation. We demand the arrest of the assaulters,” said protestor Rakesh Kumar.In his complaint filed on behalf of the sanitation workers, Artik, a resident of Mussoorie, alleged that he and his co-worker, Suraj, were attacked by 15-20 people around midnight while returning home after work. He alleged that the attackers used caste-based slurs and issued death threats. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under BNS sections 115(2), 351 and 352, along with section 3(1)(x) of the SC/ST Act.Taxi driver Ritik Bisht, a resident of Kempty, also lodged a complaint alleging that sanitation workers assaulted taxi drivers and damaged their vehicles during the incident. Police registered a cross-case under BNS sections 115(2) and 324(4).Mussoorie circle officer J C Pant said complaints had been received from both sides and cases were registered accordingly. “The matter is being investigated,” he said.