Shoot on sight orders in Uttarakhand locality after demolition drive sparks tension in Haldwani

Talking to The Indian Express, a resident said the area is on edge and they can “hear teargas and gunshots being fired”.

“Things became tense earlier in the day after the administration conducted a demilition drive at the Mariyam Masjid in Malik Ka Bageecha locality and a madrasa as they were allegedly on Nazool land. Stones were pelted and four-five vehicles parked on the road were set on fire,” he said.

The Chief Minister reviewed the situation with the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police and gave instructions to deal strictly with unruly elements. He also appealed to the people to maintain peace.

Vehicles set on fire by mob after demolition drive in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, Thursday.

Nainital District Magistrate Vandana meanwhile issued orders to impose a complete closure in the entire area of Haldwani city.

The order states: “It has been informed by SSP, Nainital and City Magistrate, Haldwani that during the process of removal of encroachment and demolition from the pre-marked site of Banbhoolpura area, there have been incidents of protest, stone pelting and arson by a particular community. Due to this, there is a threat to law and order in the area as well as a fear of damage or danger to human life and public property… Hence, in my opinion, it has become necessary to prevent the threat posed to the safety of public life and public property.”

As per the order, no person will leave the house except for urgent work, and all business institutions, shops, industries, etc will remain closed. Only hospitals and medical shops will remain open.

“It is also ordered that the information of this order should be given in Banbhoolpura area through loudspeaker,” the DM stated, adding that the order will be in force from 9 pm Thursday until further orders.

Zafar Siddiqui, a resident of Banbhoolpura, told The Indian Express that the mosque was built by one Abdul Malik on a piece of land sold to him by someone who got it on lease. Nazool land is government land not officially mentioned in revenue records.

“For the last four-five days, police had been coming to the area and informing that the mosque and the madrasa would be demolished. On Thursday morning, the administration arrived with a JCB machine. Around 5-6 pm, I came to know that there has been stone pelting and some vehicles have been set on fire. Some protesters also vandalised the police station. This went on for around 30-40 minutes. As of now, curfew is imposed and we all are locked in our houses,” said Siddiqui.

Siraj Khan, who runs a fast-food joint around 500 metres from the mosque, said he saw several police vehicles and only then did he come to know about the violence. He soon closed his shop and locked himself and his family inside his house.