Haldwani toll up to 6; police set up post on disputed land
The death toll in violence in Banbhoolpura locality of Haldwani reached six on Tuesday after a 50-year-old man who sustained a gunshot injury in the head died during treatment at Sushila Tiwari Hospital, a senior official said.
Haldwani sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Paritosh Verma said, “The death toll has increased to six after one Mohammad Israr died during treatment at Sushila Tiwari Hospital on Tuesday.” Israr, a resident of Banbhoolpura, had suffered a gunshot injury and was in critical condition since then.
Meanwhile, Nainital Police arrested six more accused in connection with Haldwani violence, taking the total number of arrests to 36. The police also recovered two more country made pistols, six live cartridges, and two empty shells. Within 24 hours of the announcement of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Nainital Police has set up a police post on the land freed from encroachment. One sub-inspector and four constables have been deployed. PAC and paramilitary jawans have
also been stationed at the spot.
Director general of police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar on Tuesday urged people not to give a communal tinge to the Haldwani violence, stressing that the police were not taking action against innocents. The state police chief also asked people to not believe the rumours being circulated on social media.
“I request people to not give a communal tinge (to Haldwani violence). Since police and administration teams were attacked, we have taken serious note of it. We have registered three FIRs...We have been investigating
these cases properly and on the basis of the scientific evidence, we will take action against culprits. And I have also assured people that we are not taking action against any innocent and implicating them. We will take lawful action. I also request people to not believe the rumours (being spread on social media),” he said. His statement came a day after Muslim religious leaders asked the district administration to conduct a fair probe into the violence.
On Sunday, a delegation of state Congress unit led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Yashpal
Arya met chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the Banbhoolpura violence and requested him to conduct a fair investigation into the matter.
“A magisterial inquiry by the Kumaon commissioner into the violence has been ordered. Those taking the law into their hands will not be spared,” Dhami had told the delegates.
Meanwhile, the Nainital Police continued its search for the suspected “mastermind” of the Haldwani violence, Abdul Malik, who was the occupant of the controversial land in Banbhoolpura, where violence broke out last week. According to police, Malik led the protest against demolition which snowballed into clashes between the locals and police, administration and civic body teams.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Prahlad Narayan Meena on Sunday rejected the rumours of the arrest of Abdul Malik and said, “Efforts are underway to arrest him. He will soon be apprehended.”
Violent clashes erupted in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani district on the evening of February 8, when civic authorities razed two structures — Masjid Mariam (mosque) and Abdul
Razzaq Zakaria madrasa — alleging they were illegally built on state government (nazul) land. As workers from the Haldwani municipal corporation and Nainital administration razed the 22-year-old structures, residents of the area set afire several vehicles, a police station and hurled stones at the demolition team as well as police personnel, according to police.
The Haldwani municipal corporation on Monday evening served a notice to Abdul Malik for recovery of ₹2.44 crore for damages to vehicles and equipment of the civic body during the violence on February 8.
The civic body asked Malik to pay the amount before February 15 or it will be recovered by the civic body as per the law.
The notice by municipal corporation commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay said after the demolition of two structures on Nazul land by Nagar Nigam Haldwani with the assistance of police and administration on February 8, the properties of Nagar Nigam were damaged, and destroyed by Abdul Malik’s supporters. It is verified by the FIR registered on February 8 in which Abdul Malik is an accused, the notice mentioned.