In the aftermath of the February 8 riots sparked by the demolition of an “illegal” madrassa in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, police have arrested twenty-five more individuals, bringing the total number of arrests to thirty. Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena stated that efforts are underway to apprehend key accused Abdul Malik.
The violence erupted following the demolition of the madrassa in the Banbhoolpura area, with locals engaging in stone-pelting and hurling petrol bombs at municipal workers and police. The situation escalated when rioters set fire to a police station, resulting in six deaths and over a hundred injuries, including police personnel and journalists.
Currently, curfew remains in place in Banbhoolpura, with outer areas of the town gradually reopening. Internet services in the area remain suspended to prevent the spread of rumors on social media platforms. Additionally, the state government has requested four companies of central paramilitary forces to maintain law and order.
A delegation from the Uttarakhand Congress met with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, urging an impartial probe into the violence. Dhami assured them that the government is taking necessary steps to restore order and that a magisterial probe is underway.
Chief Minister Dhami reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the issue of illegal encroachments, stating that action against rioters will continue. SSP Meena confirmed that most of the recent arrests were made within Nainital district, with recovered items including pistols and live cartridges allegedly looted from the police station.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind visited Haldwani, condemning police actions and alleging harassment of local residents. Maulana Arshad Madani criticized the police for their treatment of protesters and called for a fair investigation into the incident.
Maulana Mahmood Madani, head of another faction of the Jamiat, expressed concern over the situation in Haldwani in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He questioned the hasty demolition of religious structures and called for a lasting solution to such issues.
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