Following communal tension sparked by violence in Banbhoolpura over the demolition of an illegally constructed madrasa, Nainital district magistrate Vandana announced curfew imposition in Haldwani to restore law and order. Internet services in the area have also been suspended.
The unrest in Haldwani led to clashes, leaving three to four individuals dead and over 100 injured, mainly police personnel, according to Vandana. The violence erupted as residents protested the demolition, setting vehicles on fire and pelting stones.
Senior superintendent of police Prahlad Meena confirmed that the injured were primarily hospitalised police personnel and municipal workers involved in the madrasa demolition.
Vandana reported that during the violence near Banbhoolpura police station, gunfire occurred, resulting in fatalities. The situation was exacerbated as rioters attempted to set the police station ablaze, but police managed to contain the situation.
The district magistrate suggested the violence seemed premeditated, with rioters allegedly stockpiling stones and even using petrol bombs. However, she assured that the situation is now under control, with paramilitary forces deployed and additional police reinforcements from neighboring districts arriving to maintain order.
Meanwhile, in Dehradun, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a meeting with senior officials to address the situation. The demolition of the madrasa was reportedly carried out in the presence of municipal commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay, city magistrate Richa Singh, and SDM Paritosh Verma, as stated by SSP Meena.
VIDEO | The authorities in Uttarakhand's Haldwani demolished a madrasa believed to have been illegally constructed near the Banbhulpura police station today. pic.twitter.com/6HYLDktGBf
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 8, 2024
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