The Haldwani Violence : Explained (image-screen grab/twitter/Angryman_J)

Flocked by a large number of tourists, Haldwani in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, is considered to be the gateway to hill stations including Nainital, Ranikhet and others. However, in the past few days, the financial capital of Uttarakhand has been undergoing violent clashes between the locals and the police. Here”s a breakdown of the events.

1. The Haldwani Municipal Corporation demolished Abdul Razzaq Zakariya madrasa and the Mariyam mosque in the Banbhoolpura locality as part of an anti-encroachment drive on February 8. The corporation claimed that the establishments in Nainital district were built on “illegal land”.
2. The demolishment started around 4:30 pm and lasted till 5:30 pm. It soon triggered a violent clash between the residents and the police officials. Arson and stone-pelting began with vehicles, including a police car, set on fire. The police responded with tear gas shells. The situation was brought under control by 9 pm, after calling for reinforcements.
3. A curfew was declared with shoot-at-sight orders issued by CM Pushkar Singh. With movement restricted, police officers and para military forces were deployed across the region to control the region. Internet services were also suspended.
4. The official death toll is placed at six with more than 200 people, including police officers, local officials, have been injured in the violence.
5. The Haldwani municipal commissioner, Pankaj Upadhyay, said that the structures were built on nazul land, a government land meant for public usage, as per a Scroll report. The corporation claimed to have given a demolition notice on January 30.
6. Safia Malik moved the state High Court on February 6, alleging that the land on which the mosque and madrasa were built had been leased out in 1937 and sold to Malik”s family in 1994. She claimed that a plea to renew the lease had been presented in 2007 before the district administration but no action was taken.
7. The court heard the matter on February 8. Pushkar Singh claimed that the anti-encroachment drive had been sanctioned by the court. Nainital”s District Magistrate reaffirmed Singh”s claim. However, a copy of the order by Justice Pankaj Purohit proves that the Uttarakhand High Court had listed a hearing on the matter for February 14.
8. The Haldwani Municipal Corporation did not wait for the hearing and proceeded to demolish the madrasa without a court order.
9. Upadhyay stated that the demolition, although not backed by a court order, could have been avoided had Malik gotten a stay from the court. He asserted that the corporation”s actions were carried under the law. While Malik”s lawyer, Ahrar Baig, challenged this alleging that the civic body had not served a notice or given time to present a case.
10. Five individuals have been detained so far, with 19 others named in three FIRs. On Saturday, authorities lifted the curfew from the outer areas of Haldwani.

The government claimed to have razed more than 300 shrines in the span of 90 days, in 2023.