6 Dead, Over 100 Injured In Haldwani Violence; Uttarakhand Put on High Alert

The death toll in the violence that broke out in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani on Thursday over the demolition of an “illegal” madrasa, was revised to six, SP (City), Haldwani said on Friday. Additionally, over 100 policemen were injured in the incident, stated AP Anshuman, State ADG Law & Order.

Six rioters were killed during the previous day’s violence in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, SP (City), Haldwani was quoted by PTI as saying.

Additionally, the Haldwani District Magistrate Friday said there was an attempt by the mob to “burn the police personnel, who were trapped inside the police station, alive”, according to an Indian Express report.

Authorities were prompted to impose a curfew and deploy paramilitary forces to bring the tense situation under control.

The state government gave a shoot-on-sight order for rioters while also authorising security personnel to use lethal force against any disrupting elements.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami Arrives in Haldwani

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday reached Haldwani and interacted with the police personnel and people who were injured in the violence.

Dhami assured that action would be taken against all those involved in the violence. “The organised attack that took place targeting police, especially women police personnel has disturbed the peace of ‘Devbhoomi’. Journalists were also targeted. Action will be taken against whoever was involved as per law. The arms that were used in the violence will be investigated,” he said.

Schools and colleges have been shut in the area and orders have also been issued to suspend internet services in a bid to maintain the law and order situation.

Miscreants threw stones at police officers and set vehicles on fire, including a police car when the demolition of the madrasa — said to be constructed illegally near the Banbhoolpura police station — was being carried out by municipal corporation officials.

HALDWANI MADRASA DEMOLITION NEWS LATEST UPDATES

• Tensions erupted in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly amid sporadic incidents of stone pelting on Friday following the incident in Haldwani the previous night, senior officials in the police department were quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.
• On Haldwani violence, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said the anti-encroachment drive had been going on as per the court’s direction and the administration had notified people beforehand.
• “Anti-encroachment drive has been going on as per the court’s direction…administration had notified people beforehand… administration were attacked with petrol bombs, stones, there was arson also. Some people tried to create tension in Uttarakhand. The law will take strict action against it. Video footage of the whole incident is being retrieved, and those who damaged govt and public property, will be made to pay for it…we are with the people who got injured,” Dhami said.
• IUML member E T Mohammed Basheer on Friday raised the issue of Haldwani violence in the Lok Sabha and said such incidents should not happen, otherwise the country will suffer.
• SP leader Akhilesh Yadav took to microblogging site X and termed the violence in Haldwani a “failure of the BJP government” in Uttarakhand.
• “Violence erupted due to the failure of the BJP government and administration! The government is doing injustice to the people in Haldwani, people died due to violence, heartbreaking. May God give peace to the souls of the deceased. The government should control the violence as soon as possible, victims should get compensation,” he said.
• Union Minister Giriraj Singh reacted to the violence in Haldwani and said, “No one has the right to take the law into their own hands. Be it religious circumstances or any other reason, the Uttarakhand government is able, and if anyone takes the law into their hands, they will handle it perfectly.”
• DGP Abhinav Kumar along with ADG Law and Order AP Anshuman will be in Haldwani to take stock of the situation, a day after the violent clash.
• Vandana Singh, DM Nainital, noted that some people call the structure a Madrasa, however, “…It is an empty property that has two structures, which is not registered as religious structure or has been given any such recognition.”
• She, however, added that despite the process being carried out peacefully, “a large mob, within half an hour attacked our municipal corporation team”.
• Clarifying that their team did not harm or provoke anyone, Vandana Singh added that no action were taken by the authorities to cause harm to life and property either.
• The Nainital DM said that the demolition drive continued because there was no stay on the assets. She said that the legal process to remove these encroachments are being carried out at several locations.
• DM Vandana Singh said, “this was not an isolated activity and it was not targeted at a particular asset.”
• Vandana Singh, District Magistrate, Nainital, said that the action against encroachments in Haldwani was taken after the High Court’s order. “Some did approach the HC and of them, some were given time, while others weren’t,” she said. Singh said that the places where time was not given, demolition drive was carried out by PwD and Municipal corporation.
• The Uttarakhand government has put the entire state on high alert after the violence in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura on Thursday.
• At least two persons were killed and 100 police personnel were injured in the the clash that broke out over the madrasa’s demolition.
• Internet services were also suspended in the city to ensure the maintenance of law and order. The administration has also ordered the closure of all schools and colleges.
• The state government issued a ‘shoot-at-sight’ order for rioters and authorised the security personnel to use lethal force against any disrupter.
• A furious mob surrounded the Banbhoolpura police station, trapping several journalists and administrative officials inside.
• Authorities also deployed paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. Police Headquarters spokesperson IG Nilesh Anand Bharne told ANI that four companies of paramilitary force were sent to the violence-hit area. Two companies of PAC from Udham Singh Nagar also reached Haldwani.
• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called a meeting of senior officials, following which a curfew was imposed in the entire Haldwani.
• Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena said that a notice was served on the madrasa earlier as well. Meena said that the demolition was carried out in the presence of Municipal Commissioner Panda Upadhyay, City Magistrate Richa Singh and SDM Paritosh Verma.
• The Madrasa is said to have been illegally constructed near the Banbhoolpura police station.
• Miscreants pelted stones at police personnel and set several vehicles on fire, including a police car when the demolition of the madrasa was being carried out by the Haldwani municipal corporation officials.
• Several people were injured in the massive violence that broke out in Haldwani district on Thursday over the demolition of an “illegal” madrasa during an anti-encroachment drive.

(With PTI, ANI inputs)