Abdul Malik, the key accused in the Haldwani violence, was arrested by the Uttarakhand Police from Delhi on Saturday.


So far, around 80 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Haldwani earlier this month over the demolition of an illegal madrasa in Banbhoolpura. 


Over five persons were killed and a dozen injured in the violence that erupted on February 8 in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani district after the administration conducted a demolition drive where a mosque and a madrasa stood in Banbhoolpura area.


The arrest comes two days after a fresh case of fraud and criminal conspiracy was registered on Thursday against six people, including Abdul Malik and his wife, in connection with the Haldwani violence, a report in PTI said. 






Malik and his wife Safia are among six persons booked for criminal conspiracy and fraudulently using a dead man's name for illegal plotting, construction and transfer of land, Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena said.       


Several FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence. A look-out notice was also issued against Malik and his son Abdul Moid and their property in the town attached.       


Malik had built the illegal madrasa and vehemently opposed its demolition, police said.       His wife had even moved the court challenging the municipal corporation's notice for demolition. 


On a viral video showing that money is being distributed among people in the riot-hit area in Haldwani, the SSP said people who distributed money belonged to a Hyderabad-based NGO.          


Investigations have revealed that some people of the NGO 'Hyderabad Youth Courage' have distributed money, he said.      


Violence broke out on February 8 over the demolition of an illegally built madrasa in the Banbhoolpura area, with locals hurling stones and petrol bombs at municipal workers and police, forcing many police personnel to seek refuge at a police station, which the mob then set on fire.        


In the violence, six rioters were killed and more than a hundred, including police personnel and mediapersons, were injured, according to police.