Amid escalating tensions in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani district over the demolition of a madrasa adjoining a mosque, the Director General of Police (DGP) has initiated an investigation to understand the sequence of events leading to public anger and revealed that a hostile mob surrounded a police station, necessitating the deployment of additional forces to disperse them.

In the course of the incident, 2 individuals were killed and over 100 police officers sustained injuries. A curfew was imposed, the internet was suspended and schools were shut in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area after violence erupted following the demolition of an “illegally built” madrasa on government land.

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The SSP, Prahlad Meena, stated that the madrasa demolition occurred after issuing prior notices to the residents, citing its location on unlawfully encroached government land. The demolition was reportedly carried out with the presence of municipal and administrative authorities.

The genesis of the issue lies in the police and administration’s attempt to remove an illegal encroachment, subject to ongoing litigation in the High Court, which had ordered its removal. However, Shakeel Ahmad, Councillor of Ward Number 31, under which the incident took place, told The Indian Express that the High Court had not given a final decision in the case of removing illegal encroachment.

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DGP Abhinav Kumar acknowledged the violent outbreak and mentioned the initiation of an administrative inquiry to understand the sequence of events leading to public anger. He addressed rumours of deaths during the incident but stated that no confirmed information was available at the moment.

“There are some rumours of deaths, but as of now, I do not have any confirmed information of any casualty in this incident. The mob had also surrounded Banbhoolpura police station and set some vehicles on fire, but reinforcement was sent to the spot and the police station was saved. We are still assessing the property damage. On Friday morning, the Chief Secretary and ADG Law and Order will fly to Haldwani to do a proper assessment of the situation,” Kumar told Indian Express.

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Kumar defended the use of force by the police, citing self-defence against a violent mob engaged in stone-pelting, arson, and, at times, illegal firearm usage.

When questioned about the incident occurring in a Muslim-dominated area just a day after the Uttarakhand government passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill in the Assembly, the official stated that a thorough investigation would be conducted into all aspects of the incident. This includes assessing the preparedness of the police and the information available to them.

In contrast, Ahmad, the ward councillor, shared that they had requested the administration to halt the demolition until the next court hearing on February 14. Despite their assurance not to obstruct the administration if the court ruled against them, their pleas were reportedly ignored. Ahmad suggested that had the authorities waited for the final decision of the High Court, the resistance might not have occurred.

A statement from the Nainital District Magistrate’s office affirmed that losses caused by the rioters would be compensated, and posters would be released to gather information about them. The statement commended the patience demonstrated by the police and administration, emphasising that their campaign against illegal encroachment would persist.