A Sikh officer of the Uttarakhand police has earned praise for saving a Muslim youth from an angry mob in Nainital district of the state earlier this week, a media report said on Friday.

A video of the Sikh officer’s heroism has gone viral on social media since.

According to Hindustan Times, the incident took place near Garjia Devi temple in an isolated area, about 15 km from Ramnagar town.

“The youth had gone to meet the girl from Hindu community, who is his friend, according to the police,” said the report.

The report further said the locals caught them, and later called members of Hindu right wing organisations who started thrashing the youth.

A police team was rushed to the spot which tried to pacify and disperse the mob. Sub-inspector Gagandeep Singh could be seen protecting and escorting the Muslim youth away from the mob.

“But when some angry activists started shouting and assaulted the youth, Singh shielded him by embracing him and taking the blows from angry activists,” it reported.

Singh bravely took the youth from there, the report quoted additional director general of police (law and order), Ashok Kumar as having said, adding that the police soon dispersed the mob.

“The youth and the girl were taken to a police station and later sent with their parents,” he said.

“Five of the attackers who are clearly visible in the video have been identified by the police and have been booked under relevant sections,” the ADGP added.

According to the report, the police department has also announced a reward of Rs 2,500 for sub-inspector Gagandeep Singh.

The DGP also appealed to the public not to spread the video with wrong intentions to incite communal violence.