HALDWANI RIOTS
UTTARAKHAND C.M.’S STRONG RESPONSE
SARASIJ MAJUMDER
On
February 8, 2024, violent clashes erupted in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following
the court-ordered demolition of an unauthorized madrasa and mosque situated in
the Banbhoolpura area, predominantly inhabited by Muslims.
A tussle over illegal structure in the Banbhoolpura area
snowballed into a full-blown riot when a state team tried to raze the
buildings following a court order. This move was met with fierce
resistance from a mob.
Miscreants pelted stones and set a few vehicles on fire in
the area. Curfew has been imposed in Haldwani to maintain law and order
situation, while internet services have also been suspended in the city. Police
said most of the injured were hospitalised after the violence in the city’s
Banbhoolpura area were police personnel and municipal workers involved in the
demolition of a local madrasa.
Authorities claim the violence was “pre-planned and
unprovoked” and "stones were stored beforehand at homes". The rioters
even used petrol bombs, claim some reports. According to the area DM, the
situation is now under control.
Four people are reportedly dead and over 200 injured in
riots triggered by the demolition of an illegal madrasa and a mosque in
Uttarakhand's Haldwani.
Shoot-at-sight orders were issued against rioters after the
violence erupted on Thursday. Internet services and schools have been
completely shut down.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called a high-level
meeting in wake of the tension and issued orders to shoot rioters on sight. The structure in question is Mariyam
Masjid in Malik Ka Bageecha locality and a madrasa as they were allegedly on
Nazool land.
Dhami has asked police to deal strictly with unruly
elements. He also appealed to the people to maintain peace.
In the violence, six rioters were killed and more than a
hundred, including police personnel and media persons, were injured, according
to the police.
Curfew remained in force in Banbhoolpura but was lifted from
the outer areas of the town. Shops were still shut and roads deserted in
Banbhoolpura.
Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena said
the fresh arrests took the total number of people arrested so far to 30. Senior
Superintendent of Police, Nainital, constituted six special police teams to
arrest the accused
Days after the arrest of Abdul Malik, who police say is
the mastermind of the violent protests in Haldwani, the Uttarakhand police
arrested his son Abdul Moid — the 84th arrest in connection with the case.
Moid and Malik were named as accused in FIR Number
21/24 registered at Banbhoolpura police station. It was registered on the
complaint of station in-charge Neeraj Bhakuni, who alleged that when the
demolition process started, the father and son and 14 others led the mob. The FIR alleges that they incited the mob, saying
“they will not let the demolition process take place as Banbhoolpura is their
area, our rule prevails here and not the government’s”.
However, a letter submitted by a legal representative of
Malik to the Uttarakhand DGP and copied to the Nainital DM and SSP contends
that Malik was unjustly implicated. Talking to The Indian Express, Malik’s
representative said the letter was submitted to the officials by hand. Part of
the letter produced below:
February 8, around 12:30 pm, Malik accompanied Tiwari to
the residence of a former Rajya Sabha member, BJP’s Balbir Punj, in Noida to
deliver an invitation card for Tiwari’s daughter’s wedding. There, Punj
presented a book titled Tryst with AYODHYA authored by him, the letter states.
Talking to The Indian Express, BJP’s Punj confirmed that
Malik and his son accompanied Tiwari to his residence in Noida on February 8
and stayed there for around 45 minutes, starting around 12.15 pm. He however
said that he does not know the whereabouts of Malik before and after the said
time.
🚨 Uttarakhand Govt
approves ordinance to make rioters pay for damage to Public
Property.
Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will have India's most stringent anti-rioting
laws in the country.
Ordinance will not only ensure the full recovery of
damages to private & Govt property but also impose Rs 8 lakh fine.
Additionally, rioters will be held responsible for
covering the expenses incurred by the Govt staff for riot control measures.
SOURCE:_
NEWSPAPERS:-Businesstoday-Dt19/02;
HT—05/03; IE—05/03
Image:- Business today.
A relatively recent incident that took everyone by surprise. There were allegations in some quarters that though having the intelligence inputs, the demolition squad wasn’t fully prepared with adequate police personnel to counter the retaliation of this magnitude
ReplyDeleteSuch a retaliation was not expected. Intelligence failure.
DeleteWhat about Manipur?
ReplyDeleteREFER MY EARLIER BLOG.
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