Haldwani's schools reopened on Monday, much to the joy of parents and pupils, after a turbulent period of upheaval that saw the Banbhoolpura neighborhood under curfew was lifted, news agency ANI reported. However, the curfew has been lifted from the outer areas of violence-hit Haldwani, while its still in place where the massive violence took place. After violent episodes during an anti-encroachment drive, the curfew was imposed to restore law and order, and for days it had created unease in the area.
Top Points
- The police on Sunday stated that it has arrested 25 more people in connection with the February 8 riots that followed the demolition of "illegal" mosque in Haldwani. With this, the total number of people arrested rise up to 30, Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena said, adding that the prime accused Abdul Malik would be nabbed soon.
- The demolition of an illegally constructed madrassa in the Banbhoolpura district sparked riots on Thursday. Residents threw stones and petrol bombs at police and municipal employees, forcing several police officers to take cover in a police station, which the crowd then set on fire.
- Six rioters were killed in the violence, while the police said that over a hundred people were wounded, including media representatives and law enforcement officers.
- There are currently close to 1,100 security personnel stationed around the area. Additionally, in order to uphold law and order in Banbhoolpura, the state administration has requested four companies, each with around 100 members of central paramilitary troops from the Union Home Ministry.
- On Sunday, a delegation from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind visited Haldwani. Maulana Arshad Madani, the head of the Jamiat, said that demonstrators are facing discrimination based on their faith in different regions of the nation.