Five people were arrested, while several others were detained in connection with the violence in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani on Thursday, the police said, also confirming the death of five people.
“Police have registered a case against 5,000 unidentified people and several have also been taken into custody,” Haldwani, SSP Nainital PN Meena told news agency ANI.
Five people were killed in the violence that broke out over the demolition of an illegally built madrasa. More than 100 policemen were injured as locals hurled stones and petrol bombs at municipal workers and the police, forcing many police personnel to seek refuge at a police station which the mob later set on fire.
Commenting on the present situation, ADG Law and Order, AP Anshuman, said, “16 people were named in the three FIRs filed, out of which five were arrested. Curfew was lifted in areas other than Banbhoolpura and nearby places, where the violence occurred.”
He also said no visitors were allowed in the Banbhoolpura area as the investigations into the riots were underway.
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. Others had been discharged.
Meanwhile, internet services were restored in some parts of the city.
A day after the clashes, with curfew in force since 9 pm Thursday, Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area looked deserted. Stones were strewn on the streets and there were charred remains of torched vehicles.
On Friday, no further incidents of violence were reported in the locality where the madrasa — which included a “structure” where prayers were held.
Over 1,000 police personnel remained deployed in the town, close to Nainital, officials told news agency PTI. The demolished structures were on government land, and municipal workers and police acted after court orders, they said.
Officials also said stones were pelted at them from rooftops, where they appeared to have been stocked.
At least some of the alleged rioters killed in the violence had gunshot wounds.