Tensions escalate in Haldwani: Violence was pre-planned and unprovoked says Uttarakhand Official

Amidst the soaring tensions in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, 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.

The District Magistrate added that the police and administration didn't take any actions that might endanger life or property during the incident. She stated that the demolition operation started peacefully, but within thirty minutes, a mob attacked the municipal cooperation team despite the proper execution of the process. “The attackers used petrol bombs, fired at the Banbhulpura police station, and set the vehicles on fire. They collected stones on the rooftops before the attack…the violence was pre-planned…The mob did not try to save the structure, they just attacked the state machinery and state symbols,” said the district magistrate.

"The first mob with stones was dispersed and the second mob that came in had petrol bombs. This was unprovoked and our team did not use any force," said Vandana Singh. She added that the demolition drive continued as planned as there were no stay orders. “We decided to continue the demolition drive because there was no stay on the assets... A legal process to remove the encroachment is being carried out at various places and so it was done here too,” the DM added.

Two people were killed and many including fifty police officials were injured after violence erupted in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani on Thursday, over the state government's decision to demolish a Madrasa and adjacent mosque deemed illegal by a court order. A curfew has been imposed, with shoot-on-sight orders issued for rioters. Three FIRs have been filed in connection with the violence, and the police have identified over two dozen people as instigators of the unrest, stated Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police, Prahlad Narayan Meena.​