Curfew partially lifted two days after massive violence that rocked Uttarakhand’s Haldwani

Two days after violence rocked the Banbhoolpura area of Uttarpradesh, the authorities on Saturday partially lifted the curfew from the periphery areas of Haldwani.  A case has been registered against 19 named and 5,000 unidentified people by the Uttarakhand police.

"We have registered FIR, we are checking the CCTV footage, and evidence is being collected...total of 1,200 security personnel have been deployed in Haldwani...2 more death cases have been reported today afternoon, the bodies were recovered yesterday only...we are seeing how their deaths occurred, we didn't get the body at the spot. After post-mortem only we will get to know how they died," said Prahalad Narayan Meena, SSP Nainital.

At least 6 people were killed and several others were injured after violence erupted in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area on Thursday, over the state government's drive to demolish a Madrasa  and a mosque that were deemed illegal by a court order. Following the sporadic spate of violence, a curfew was imposed, internet connections shut down and shoot-at-sight orders were issued to curb the violence. 

The Nainital district magistrate Vandana Singh on Friday said that the spate of violence that unfolded was “pre-planned and unprovoked”. “They collected stones on the rooftops before the attack…the violence was pre-planned,” said the DM. "The demolition drive started peacefully, the force was deployed for prevention. Stones were pelted on our Municipal Corporation's team. It was planned that the day the demolition drive will be conducted the forces would be attacked," said Vandana Singh.

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On Thursday, trouble broke out after municipal officials reached the Madrasa at Banbhoolpura in Haldwani district. The situation further escalated after officials, accompanied by police attempted to carry out a demolition drive. They were met with objections from the locals, following which, ugly confrontations broke out. Several vehicles were vandalized and set ablaze. Internet services were suspended in the area. Shops and schools were shut down the following day as a preventative measure.