Police arrested 25 people on Sunday in connection with the violence that erupted in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over the demolition of an “illegally built” madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Banbhoolpura. This takes the total arrests in the case to 30 with five already held by the police.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has sought more central forces for deployment in Haldwani, officials told PTI news agency. Four companies — containing about 100 personnel each — of the Central Paramilitary Forces have been sought to be deployed in Banbhoolpura.
Here are the top developments:
SSP Nainital Prahlad Narayan Meena said 3 FIRs have been registered over the entire matter and 25 people were arrested on Sunday.
“From these 25 people, we have recovered 7 country-made pistols and 54 live rounds. When they attacked the Banbhoolpura Police Station, they looted government ammunition of different calibres as well, out of which 99 have been recovered,” he added.
Along with today’s, police have arrested 30 people in connection with the violence in Haldwani.
The senior cop also said they are on the lookout for the main culprit and normalcy is being restored in the area where the violence broke out.
The Uttarakhand government has sought more central forces for deployment in Haldwani, officials told PTI news agency. They said Chief Secretary Radha Raturi sent a requisition to the Home Ministry seeking four companies — containing about 100 personnel each — of the Central Paramilitary Forces for deployment in Banbhoolpura.
Nearly 1,100 security personnel are already deployed in the town.
Six rioters were killed while 60 people were injured in Thursday’s violence, officials said.
From Monday, the curfew will be lifted from everywhere except the areas under the Banbhoolpura Police Station. Schools and Anganwadi centers in all remaining areas will remain open from Monday.
On Sunday, shops in Banbhoolpura were still shut and the roads deserted. Internet services also continue to be suspended in the area to prevent rumour-mongering through social media platforms.
A magisterial probe has been ordered into the violence on Thursday with instructions to conclude it within a fortnight, reported PTI.
The order issued by Chief Secretary Radha Raturi said the magisterial probe will be conducted by Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat, who will submit his report to the government in 15 days.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami said action is being taken to arrest the miscreants and control the unruly elements involved in the violence.
He also added that the government will keep taking action against illegal encroachments across the state.
Chief Minister Dhami also met a delegation of the Uttarakhand Congress led by Leader of Opposition in state assembly Yashpal Arya. The Congress leaders demanded the state government take immediate action to maintain law and order in the riot-hit area.
Congress leaders with Chief Minister Dhami. (Photo from ANI) Those who played with law and order in the state would not be spared at any cost, Dhami told the Congress leaders.
Besides former chief minister Harish Rawat, a host of Congress MLAs including Haldwani legislator Sumit Hridayesh, Pritam Singh, Bhuvan Chandra Kapri, Furkan Ahmed, Adesh Chauhan and Mamta Rakesh were part of the delegation.