Haldwani violence: Uttarakhand Chief Secretary visits violence-affected areas, reviews situation

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi on Friday reached the violence-affected areas on Friday to take stock of the situation in the violence-affected area of Banbhoolpura of Haldwani. Clashes erupted on Thursday night after an anti-encroachment drive in Haldwani's Banbhoolpura area.

Several MPs from BJP on Friday said the violence in Uttarakhand's Haldwani appeared to be a "conspiracy" and warrants strict action against the guilty, while a Shiv Sena lawmaker termed it a result of "polarisation" created by the saffron party for electoral gain. Asked about the Thursday violence, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harnath Yadav said, "The incident in Haldwani is a conspiracy. Bombs, country pistols, and other weapons were used, and government officials and police were attacked. There should be an order to shoot rioters at sight... There is no need to be lenient with them." The MP from Uttar Pradesh said the Uttarakhand government should "search every house," and take action against the perpetrators.

Prahalad Narayan Meena, SSP, Nainital said, "In Haldwani, the situation is under our control, along with our local forces, CAPF is also being deployed. We have registered an FIR, we are checking the CCTV footage, and evidence is being collected...total of 1,200 security personnel have been deployed in Haldwani...2 more death cases have been reported today afternoon, the bodies were recovered yesterday only...we are seeing how their deaths occurred, we didn't get the body at the spot. After post-mortem only we will get to know how they died. After the riots happened, 4 bodies were recovered. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, during the review of externally aided projects in the Secretariat, instructed the officials to speed up the implementation of externally aided projects being run in the state. CM Dhami instructed to speed up the projects that are underway at the central level, such proposals should be sent to the Resident Commissioner by the concerned departments so that there can be proper advocacy at the central level.

According to the information given by the government, a total of 5 people died in the incident last night. In which,  Faeem Qureshi, Zahid, Mohd Anas, Shabban and Prakash Kumar have been identified as deceased. Apart from this, 7 injured are undergoing treatment in Base Hospital, 3 in Krishna Hospital, 3 in Sushila Tiwari Hospital, and 1 in Brijlal Hospital.

Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar on Friday said action under the stringent National Security Act will be taken against those who attacked police personnel and indulged in arson and vandalism in Haldwani. The DGP along with ADG (law and order) AP Anshuman visited the violence-hit town in Nainital district to assess the situation in consultation with senior officials. "Action under the NSA will be taken against unruly elements who attacked police personnel, and indulged in arson and vandalism at the police station in Banbhoolpura," he said.

On Haldwani violence, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, " Anti-encroachment drive has been going on as per the court's direction. Yesterday, when the administration was trying to raze illegal property, this violence broke out and our Police personnel including women officers were attacked and stones were pelted at them. This is highly condemnable. Uttarakhand is 'Dev Bhoomi'...this has never happened here...some people have tried to spoil the atmosphere in 'Dev Bhoomi' and took the law into their own hands...journalists were also attacked, their cameras were broken...public properties were burned...video footages will be checked, action will be taken...Law will take its own course". 

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami met an injured person at a hospital.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived at Haldwani and took stock of the current law and order situation.

Several MPs from BJP on Friday said the violence in Uttarakhand's Haldwani appeared to be a "conspiracy" and warrants strict action against the guilty, while a Shiv Sena lawmaker termed it a result of "polarisation" created by the saffron party for electoral gain.

"Along with Chief Secretary, ADG Law and Order, I took stock of the situation in the region and held a meeting to understand the sequence of events. We then visited the hospital to meet the injured... After the feedback we received from the District Administration, we have two priorities- restoring normalcy in Haldwani city within 24 hours, and second, identifying and taking action against all miscreants...," said DGP Abhinav Kumar.

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, DGP Abhinav Kumar and ADG Law & Order AP Anshuman have reached Haldwani to take stock of the situation after the violence in Banbhoolpura.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami chairs a high-level meeting with officials to review the current situation in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani. He has ordered to take strict action against the rioters and miscreants involved in the violence that took place.

UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on Haldwani violence | "This issue is worrisome but the state government and local administration will handle the situation... A large number of illegal encroachments have been made in UP, Uttarakhand and other states, which are also legally vacated..."

Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Haldwani violence | "No one has the right to take the law in his hands. Be it religious circumstances or any other reason. Uttarakhand government is able, and if anyone takes the law into their hands they will handle it perfectly."

DM Nainital Vandana Singh on death count in Haldwani | "...According to official information till now, two people have died."

"...After the HC's order action has been taken against encroachment at various places in Haldwani...Everyone was given notice and time for hearing...Some did approach the HC some were given time while some were not given time. Where time was not given demolition drive was conducted by PWD & Municipal Corporation. This was not an isolated activity and was not targeted to a particular asset...," Nainital DM said. 

DM Nainital, Vandana Singh on Haldwani violence | "You can see (in the video) that the Police force and the administration are not provoking or harming anybody."

DM Nainital, Vandana Singh says, "Maximum force was used for the protest of the police station...As soon as they (the mob) were dispersed from the police station, they headed to the Gandhi Nagar area."

"Stones were pelted on our Municipal Corporation's team. It was planned that the day the demolition drive will be conducted the forces would be attacked," DM Vandana Singh.

"The mobsters fired at police officials in Haldwani. Petrol bombs were hurled at the police station," informed Nainital DM Vandana Singh in a press conference.

"After the HC's order action has been taken against encroachment at various places in Haldwani...Everyone was given notice and time for hearing...Some did approach the HC some were given time while some were not given time," Nainital DM.

Addressing a press conference, Nainital DM Vandana Singh said, "Police patrol vehicles were torched. Police did not use force on anybody."   

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) has been imposed on mobsters accused of creating ruckus in the Haldwani.

A hearing was held by the Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday on a PIL seeking to stop the demolition of the mosque and madrasa in Haldwani. Filed by Malik colony resident Safia Malik and others, the petition challenged the notice given by the Haldwani Municipal Corporation to the petitioners.

Internet services have been suspended in Banbhulpura. So far 4 people have died and more than 100 policemen are injured.

The administration has also ordered closure of all schools and colleges.

Authorities in Uttarakhand are on high alert after Thursday's violence in Haldwani, triggered after an illegal madrasa and mosque were razed during an anti-encroachment drive.

Security stepped up in several parts of the violence-hit area of ​​Haldwani after clashes broke out in Banbhoolpura following an anti-encroachment drive on Thursday.

Vehicles were damaged by a mob in the violence-hit area of ​​Haldwani. The clashes broke out in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani following an anti-encroachment drive on Thursday. A curfew was enforced in Banbhoolpura on the orders of the District Magistrate.

At least four people have died in the violence-hit Banbhoolpura in Haldwani and more than 100 policemen are injured, State ADG Law & Order AP Anshuman informed.

After violence erupted in Haldwani, Maulana Mahmood Madani wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah and informed him that a madrasa and mosque were razed while the matter is in court and a hearing was scheduled on February 14.

In the letter, Madani wrote that the mosque and madrassa located in Malik's garden under Balpurpura area of ​​Haldwani police station were demolished by the Municipal Corporation while the matter will be heard in the High Court on February 14.

This place is situated in a Muslim-dominated area and has been taken on lease by the Muslim side since 1937.

The demolition of the mosque and madrasa was protested by the people of the area after which cops resorted to lathi charge which created a chaos.

Madani further wrote that religious places are constantly being demolished by the administration and unruly elements in Uttarakhand. He said it is important to consider the sentiments of the local community while addressing such sensitive issues.

In a pluralistic society like India, the demolition of religious places is always a matter of concern, he said.

I urge you to ensure that in future incidents of acts of vandalism against religious places, the local administration takes proactive steps to connect with the affected community and gain their trust.

Curfew was imposed in Haldwani on Thursday after local residents set vehicles on fire and hurled stones, injuring at least 60 people, over the demolition of an "illegally built" madrasa.

A large number of local people gathered to resist the demolition team when it arrived, escorted by policemen.  As a bulldozer razed the madrasa, mobs pelted stones at policemen and set fire to vehicles.  Additional force was summoned to the area, police said.