Four people died and over 100, primarily police personnel, were injured in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after violence broke out on Thursday over the demolition of an “illegally-built” madrasa and an adjoining mosque.
According to officials, residents set vehicles and a police station on fire and hurled stones. Besides police personnel, municipal workers involved in the demolition work were also injured. A curfew was imposed at Haldwani, a major city in Nainital district.
A shoot-at-sight order has been issued against rioters in the city. Schools have also been shut. Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena said the madrasa and the mosque stood on illegally encroached government land. A court order was issued to demolish the structure, following which municipal workers arrived at the location.
A heavy presence of police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel was also present. However, angry residents, including women, in large numbers descended on the streets to protest the action as the demolition of the two structures began. They were seen breaking barricades and arguing with the police personnel engaged in the demolition exercise.
As a bulldozer razed the madrasa and the mosque, mobs hurled stones at the police personnel, municipal corporation workers and journalists. Though the police tried to disperse the irate mob by resorting to a mild lathi charge and bursting of teargas shells, tension escalated.
The mob set fire to several vehicles, including a police patrol car. By late evening, the mob had set ablaze the the Banbhoolpura Police Station. A curfew was imposed following this.
According to the District Magistrate, the situation is now under control. The violence in Banbhoolpura wasn’t allowed to spread to the main city. Four companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the city. Two companies of PAC have also arrived from Udham Singh Nagar.
