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Curfew Lifted In Haldwani, Except Banbhoolpura, After Madrasa Demolition Sparks Violence

Stores on the outskirts of the city opened for business on Saturday, while schools are still shut.

PTI
Violence broke out in a town in Uttarakhand's Haldwani on Thursday as locals opposed the demolition of a madrasa and a mosque Photo: PTI
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Curfew has been lifted from the outer areas of this violence-hit Uttarakhand town, but it remains in force in the Banbhoolpura area that witnessed arson and vandalism by a mob over the demolition of an illegally-built madrasa on Thursday.

Stores on the outskirts of the city opened for business on Saturday, while schools are still shut.

"Patrolling is continuously being done in the affected area and the situation is under control," Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Law and Order, A P Anshuman, who is camping in Haldwani, told PTI Videos.

The officer informed that five people involved in Thursday's violence have so far been arrested and three FIRs have been filed..

Internet services continue to be suspended to prevent rumours from spreading through social media platforms.

The ADG mentioned that despite the ongoing curfew in the Banbhoolpura area, residents are permitted to purchase essential items intermittently.

The movement of trains up to Kathgodam has also been resumed, he added.

No fresh untoward incident has been reported from anywhere, the officer confirmed.

Six rioters were killed in Thursday's violence, as per latest reports.

More than 60 people were hurt on Thursday as locals hurled stones and petrol bombs at municipal workers and police, forcing many police personnel to seek refuge in a police station, which the mob then set on fire.

Seven people, including a journalist, were under treatment on Friday at three different hospitals. Three of them were said to be in a serious condition.