Mosque Demolition Sparks Riots In Uttrakhand

Four people died and 250 were injured in widespread violence over the demolition of an illegal madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani. The city has been placed under...

Ruby Thakur
February 9, 2024
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Four people died and 250 were injured in widespread violence over the demolition of an illegal madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani. The city has been placed under curfew, with shoot-at-sight orders issued against rioters and internet services completely shut down.

Mosque Demolition Sparks Riots In Uttrakhand

Why In News

Four people died and 250 were injured in widespread violence over the demolition of an illegal madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani. The city has been placed under curfew, with shoot-at-sight orders issued against rioters and internet services completely shut down.

How Did The Controversy Start

The confrontation reached a boiling point when a team of government officials, accompanied by policemen, attempted to raze the structures following a court order.
The madrasa and mosque had been declared illegal by the administration, leading to their demolition. However, this move was met with fierce resistance from residents in the Vanbhulpura area of Haldwani.

The clash led to injuries to over 50 policemen, with several administration officials, municipal workers, and journalists also caught in the crossfire.
The large group, described as “unruly elements,” threw stones at the officials, prompting the police to retaliate with tear gas.
The violence escalated as vehicles outside the police station were set on fire. The demolitions carried out with heavy police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) presence, aimed to clear government land allegedly encroached upon by the madrasa and the mosque.
As the bulldozer razed the structures, enraged residents, including women, took to the streets in protest. As they broke barricades and clashed with the police, the situation escalated rapidly.

Mobs then hurled stones at cops, municipal workers, and journalists, resulting in injuries and damage to property. More than 20 motorcycles and a security bus were set ablaze.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said a team had been dispatched to the area to carry out the demolition after a court order. The Chief Minister stressed that “anti-social elements” in the area had clashed with the police. Additional police and central forces are being deployed to restore order. Mr Dhami has appealed to the public to maintain peace.
Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay claimed that the madrasa and namaz site were illegal, highlighting that the Haldwani civic body had previously seized three acres of nearby land and sealed the structures.

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. As a precautionary measure, a curfew has been imposed across Haldwani; shops and schools have been closed in the affected areas.
The situation remains tense, with the Chief Minister urging officials to deal sternly with “anarchic elements.” The injured are being treated in hospital, with many suffering head and face injuries.

Measures Taken

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who called an emergency meeting of the police and administrative officials, said those responsible for the riots would not be spared.
In response to the escalating situation, the District Magistrate has imposed a curfew in Banbhoolpura and authorized a shoot-on-sight order for rioters to maintain normalcy in the situation.

The order to impose a curfew in the Haldwani City area came into effect at 9 pm tonight and will remain in place until further orders.
Chief Minister Dhami has taken the incident of attacks on police, administration officials, and employees seriously during the removal of illegal construction in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, as well as the incident of spreading unrest in the area.

The Chief Minister has also given strict instructions to all relevant officials to ensure peace and law enforcement in the area. four companies of paramilitary force have been sent to the violence-hit area of Haldwani. IG said that two companies of PAC from Udham Singh Nagar have reached Haldwani.

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Ruby Thakur

General Studies Lecturer SSBCrackExams, BSc In PCM, Trained Students For State Services Exams. Expertise in Geography ,Polity & Current Affairs. Love Travelling.