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Religious fanatics go on rampage : Attempts to burn Policemen in the Police Station

  • Riots due to the razing of illegal madrasas in Haldwani
  • Five Muslims die in violence
  • More than 100 Police injured
  • Several Police vehicles were set on fire
  • Shoot-at-sight orders issued against rioters
  • Rioters use stones, petrol bombs, and guns to attack

Haldwani (Uttarakhand) – On 8th February 2024, the local religious fanatics attacked the Administration and Police staff that went to the Banbhoolpura area to take action against an unauthorised madrasa as directed by the High Court. They attacked even the Banbhoolpura Police Station and set Police vehicles on fire, surrounding from all sides. The rioters used petrol bombs and guns for the attack. So far, five persons have been killed in the violence, including Johny and Anas, a father-son duo; Eris, Israr, and Siwan. More than 100 Police have been injured, and many of them have been hospitalised. A ‘Shoot-at-sight’ order has been issued, and a curfew has been imposed. Internet services have been shut down. Schools and colleges were shut on 9th February 2024.

Among the injured are

Paritosh Verma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nainital District, Deputy Director Rekha Kohli of Kaladhingi, Tehsildar Sachin Kumar, Executive Officer (Special Duty) Nitin Lohani and more than 100 Policemen

Pre-planned attack – District Magistrate Vandana Singh

Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh stated in a press conference that a hearing was going on in Uttarakhand High Court for action against the unauthorised madarasa and even efforts were on to take action at the administrative level. The residents knew about it, and it has now been realised that they had collected stones on the rooftops of their houses and made petrol bombs. Till 30th January, the situation was normal.

Sequence of events

The administrative officers, employees and Police went to the site as per Uttarakhand High Court’s orders to demolish the illegal madrasa. The local Muslim women started opposing them. Later, Muslims started heavy stone-pelting from their rooftops at the Police and the administrative staff. There was a firing at the Police in the lanes. Soon, they started hurling even petrol bombs; therefore, the Policemen had to retreat. Many Policemen got injured in stone-pelting. Female Police staff tried to hide in local Hindus’ houses. Attempts were made to set those houses on fire.

The religious fanatics, including many Muslim women wearing burqas, cordoned off the Police Station. They started setting Police vehicles on fire. Police tried to come out through the terrace since the fire could have engulfed the Police Station, but the mob started pelting stones at them from outside. The violence was going on for many hours. The Police got orders to fire much later. The rioting religious fanatics were driven away after additional Police staff reached the site of violence. Despite such fierce violence, only 4 individuals have been arrested so far. (This is the competency of the Police. – Editor)

The violence started in the afternoon and went on till late night. State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting which was attended by the Government and Police Officers.

They tried to burn us alive – Female Police staff

The female Police said that 15-20 of them tried to save themselves by going to a house amid violence, but the mob pelted stones and glass bottles at that house. The mob even attempted to set the house on fire. Stone-pelting was going on everywhere, on roads and house-tops. Rioters had surrounded the area. The house of the person who tried to save the female Police staff was also damaged, and he was abused. The female Police informed the head office of their whereabouts when additional Police staff was sent, and they were rescued.

Strict action will be taken – CM Dhami   

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami promised to take strict action against rioters. (It is required. Hindus feel that such action should be taken against the rioters so that religious fanatics would not dare to repeat such violence in future. – Editor)

Violence was pre-planned – Police 

Deputy Police Commissioner Abhinav Kumar said that there was a firing. Rioters will be identified and will be booked under the National Security Act. The violence was pre-planned. More than 4,000 houses have been built by encroaching upon the land in this area. (What were the Police and Administration doing till illegal houses were constructed in such large numbers ? Why action is not taken against them for failing from duty ? – Editor)

Incitement against UCC is also a reason for the violence

A day before this incident, the Uniform Civil Code Bill was passed in Uttarakhand. Muslims have been strongly opposing this Act. Their religious leaders are threatening to come to the streets to oppose, and there is opposition even through social media. A spokesperson of ‘the Peace Party of India’, Shadab Chauhan based in Uttar Pradesh, warned the CM, saying, “Keep your ears open Pushkar Singh Dhami. Nobody has the guts to order Indian Muslims to do anything, other than Allah. It is your big mistake if you think we are weak. You have no idea about our power.”

Harish Rawat, the former CM of Uttarakhand and a Congress leader had also said that there could be unrest in the State. Hammad Ahmad Kasami, a Qazi from Dehradun, had spoken about Muslims taking to the streets.

Editorial Perspective

  • This is the condition in Uttarakhand, where BJP is in power. In Congress and Trinamool Congress Governments ruling States, religious fanatics would certainly kill Police and Hindus.
  • Illegal tombs and other unauthorised constructions built by Muslims on the Government lands have been demolished in Uttarakhand in the last few months, but please note that in an area like Haldwani, where Muslims form the majority population, there is fierce opposition.

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