Haldwani Violence Updates: 6 Dead, U'khand, UP On High Alert; NSA To Be Invoked Against Attackers, Say Police

BJP MPs on Friday said the violence in Uttarakhand's Haldwani appeared to be a "conspiracy" and demanded strict action must be taken against the guilty. Rajya Sabha MP Harnath Yadav demanding a "shoot at sight" order against rioters.

Asked about the Thursday violence, Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh, 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."

(With PTI inputs)

On the violence that erupted in the Banbhoolpura area of Uttarakhand's Haldwani on Thursday, Chief Secretary of State Radha Raturi said the situation will return to normalcy soon and appealed to the citizens to not spread or pay heed to rumours.

"We held a meeting and took stock of the situation here. The government will soon restore peace in the region, law of the land will be implemented. And soon, things will return to normalcy. I appeal to all citizens to not spread or pay heed to any kinds of rumours and help maintain peace," Radha Raturi said.

Addressing a press conference on Friday on the situation in violence-hit Haldwani, Nainital DM Vandana Singh said that it appears the violence was “pre-planned and unprovoked” and "stones were stored beforehand at homes". "The rioters even used petrol bombs," she said.

"The demolition drive started peacefully, the force was deployed for prevention...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...The first mob with stones were dispersed & the second mob that came in had petrol bombs. This was unprovoked and our team did not use any force..." Nainital DM Vandana Singh said.

Reacting to the Haldwani violence, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said no one has the right to take the law in their 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," he said.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a high-level meeting with officials to review the current situation in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, on Friday.

He has ordered to take strict action against the rioters and miscreants involved in the violence that took place.

While Uttarakhand was already under a high alert after the violence in Haldwani, a similar alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh, with an order issued for strict checking of vehicles.

Authorities were also asked to monitor social media activities.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya termed the Haldwani situation worrisome, adding that the state government and local administration will handle the situation.

"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...," the UP deputy CM said.

Nainital District Magistrate (DM) Vandana Singh said that the death toll in the Haldwani violence was earlier put at four before verification, however, the official information till now suggests that two people have died in the violence.

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Nainital District Magistrate (DM) Vandana Singh said notices for the encroachment drive were given to everyone and some even approached the High Court, adding that the drive was not an "isolated" activity or meant to target any one community.

"...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...," Vandana Singh said.

DM Nainital, Vandana Singh, addressed a press conference on Friday morning where she showed a video of how the violence unfolded. She said that the video shows that the police did not provoke or harm anybody

"You can see (in the video) that the Police force and the administration are not provoking or harming anybody," she said as she showed the video.

Several vehicles were damaged in the violence that broke out in Banbhoolpura area of Uttarakhand's Haldwani on Thursday over the demolition of a madrasa and a mosque, which the authorities deemed 'illega'.

Locals were seen breaking barricades and arguing with the police personnel engaged in the demolition exercise. As a bulldozer razed the madrasa and the mosque, mobs hurled stones at the police personnel, municipal corporation workers and journalists, leaving several injured.

A high alert has been issued in the entire state after the violence in Banbhoolpura of Haldwani over the demolition of a madrasa and a mosque, Uttarakhand Government said on Friday.

Internet services have been suspended after violence in Banbhoolpura of Haldwani. The administration has also ordered the closure of all schools and colleges, Nainital District Administration said.

State ADG Law & Order AP Anshuman confirmed on Friday morning that four people died in the violence in Banbhoolpura area of Uttarakhand's Haldwani and added that more than 100 policemen were injured

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.

However, no relief was granted in the matter by the vacation bench of Justice Pankaj Purohit, following which the demolition exercise began. The matter will now be heard on February 14.

Early morning visuals showed security personnel deployed in the Banbhoolpura area of Uttarakhand's Haldwani where violence broke out on Thursday after locals opposed the demolition of a madrasa and a mosque.

Earlier, the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani had made news in December 2022 when its residents held protests against the imminent removal of encroachments from around 29 acres of railway land there in compliance with a high court order.

Nainital district magistrate Vandana said three to four people have died and over 100 people, primarily police personnel, have been injured in the Banbhoolpura violence so far, a Hindustan Times report mentioned. The tally of injured people varies in reports, however, government said 60 people have sustained injuries in the violence in Uttarakhand's Haldwani so far.

Vandana said the curfew has been imposed in Haldwani to maintain law and order situation, while internet services have also been suspended in the city, adding that an order to keep schools in the area shut has also been issued.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent four companies of additional central forces to Uttarakhand's Haldwani following the violence, Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar said on Thursday. Kumar said that the situation is tense but under control in the city.

"As per the information available with me, several Police personnel and administration officials sustained injuries and have been admitted to hospitals. No casualties reported yet. Situation is tense but under control...In the days to come, the people behind the incident will be identified and action will be taken against them," he said.

Besides imposition of curfew in entire Haldwani after the violence broke out on Thursday, shoot-at-sight orders were also issued against rioters in the city. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged everyone to maintain calm and asked officials to deal sternly with "anarchic elements."

All shops in Haldwani were also closed, while all schools from Classes 1-12 in and around the city have also been ordered shut. Curfew came into effect at 9 pm on Thursday in Haldwani till further orders.