At least five police officers have been killed and over 100 injured in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, as a result of violence over the demolition of a mosque and madrasa that were “illegally built.”
The incident happened in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area. In January of last year, the district saw large-scale protests after over 50,000 people—mostly Muslims—were served with eviction notices on land they claimed they were illegally occupying. The Indian Supreme Court eventually stayed the demolitions.
The most recent effort, according to officials, was motivated by a high court judgment requesting that the area’s unlawful settlements be removed.
The madrassa and the mosque were razed, according to District Magistrate Vandana Singh, since they were not recognized as religious buildings and were constructed unlawfully on government property.
“The drive was not directed toward any one community,” Ms. Singh said. “A mob attacked officials shortly after the drive, resulting in violence,” she added. Authorities had given the mosque’s administration ample notice of its demolition.
After violence in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over the demolition of a “illegally built” madrasa and an adjacent mosque in Banbhoolpura, at least five people were killed and over 100 police officers injured. Officials said on Friday that the clashes were prearranged. Earlier, authorities had imposed a curfew after residents had set fire to cars and a police station and thrown stones during the riots.
The majority of those hospitalized, according to news agency PTI, were police officers; the others were municipal employees working on the demolition of the nearby madrasa and the mosque that was part of its complex.
WHAT WE KNOW YET ABOUT HALDWANI, Uttarakhand VIOLENCE
In a major accusation, an official stated that the fights in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, were prearranged. The violence that struck the area on Thursday left five people dead and more than 100 police officers hurt and hospitalized.
Images taken early on Friday morning revealed that Haldwani (Uttarakhand) was well guarded.
The Uttarakhand government acknowledged that a state-wide high alert had been issued, that internet connections had been suspended in the wake of the violence, that all schools and institutions in Nainital had been forced to close, and that Haldwani’s stores had been closed as the violence had worsened.
Uttar Pradesh also issued a high alert, ordered rigorous vehicle inspections, and requested that authorities keep an eye on social media activity.
Vandana Singh, the Nainital District Magistrate, stated at a press conference that “the encroachment was being removed after a High Court order, and an attempt was made to burn people.” “CCTV was being used to identify the accused,” Singh added. “The police force and the administration did not instigate or hurt anybody,” according to the incident’s videos.
The madrasa and the mosque were demolished in line with a court order, Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena informed PTI. The demolitions took place in full view of police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) soldiers. The buildings were situated on unlawfully encroached government land.
When the demolitions started, a large number of irate residents, including women, flocked to the streets to protest the action. Tensions increased, and by late evening, the mob had set fire to several vehicles, including a police patrol car. Later, the Banbhoolpura Police Station was also on fire, and the District Magistrate had issued an order to shoot on sight.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the situation in Haldwani on Thursday at a meeting in Dehradun with senior authorities, including Chief Secretary Radha Raturi and DGP Abhinav Kumar. He directed officials to deal firmly with “anarchic elements” and advised everyone to be calm.
The Chief Minister stated that the police were urged to find and take action against anyone found guilty in a new X post on Friday.
Haldwani DGP Abhinav Kumar told the reporters that the authorities’ top priorities were finding and punishing all miscreants and bringing the city back to normalcy within a day.
On Thursday, the Uttarakhand High Court heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Safia Malik, a resident of Malik colony, and other parties, challenging the notice that the Haldwani Municipal Corporation had sent to the petitioners, with the aim of halting the demolition of the mosque and madrasa in Haldwani.
The hearing is scheduled for February 14. However, the demolition activity started after Justice Pankaj Purohit is vacation bench refused to award any relief in the matter.