4 Dead, 250 Injured in Violence Over Demolition of Illegal Madrasa in Uttarakhand

Haldwani: Four persons lost their lives and 250 including 100 policemen were injured in widespread violence over the demolition of an illegal madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani on Thursday.

The administration has declared a curfew in Haldwani with shoot-at-sight orders issued against rioters. Internet services have been shut down in the region.

The violence started when a team of government officials and policemen, attempted to demolish the illegal structures following a court order. The madrasa and mosque had been declared illegal by the administration.

This demolition attempt was resisted by the locals of the Vanbhulpura area in Haldwani.

In the clash that followed around 100 policemen along with administration officials, municipal workers, and journalists were injured. The violence escalated as vehicles outside the police station were set on fire.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said a team had been dispatched to the area to carry out the demolition after a court order. Additional police and central forces are being deployed to restore order. The Chief Minister, in a meeting with senior officials, discussed prohibitory orders and the necessity for a shoot-at-sight policy against rioters to control the escalating unrest.

The Uttarakhand High Court had a hearing on Thursday on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to halt the demolition. The court, however, did not grant relief, and the demolition continued. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on February 14.