Shoot-At-Sight orders after violence breaks out in Uttarakhand's Haldwani over demolition of 'illegal' Madrasa: VIDEO
Earlier in the day, municipal authorities in Haldwani razed a madrasa allegedly built illegally on government land near Banbhulpura police station.
Uttarakhand News: Violent clashes broke out in Haldwani in Uttarakhand after an “illegal” madrasa was demolished by authorities. Locals clashed with police, threw stones at officers and set vehicles on fire as the protests took an ugly turn.
Footage from the area shared on social media showed the protesters engaged in pitched battles with law enforcement personnel, who can be seen using various methods to cover themselves as a barrage of stones is hurled at them by the miscreants.
VIDEO| Authorities in Haldwani in Uttarakhand today demolished a madrasa allegedly built illegally near Banbhulpura police station. pic.twitter.com/6HYLDktGBf
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 8, 2024
Security personnel can also be seen throwing stones back at the crowd to deter them, the video showed.
Earlier in the day, municipal authorities in Haldwani razed a madrasa allegedly built illegally on government land near Banbhulpura police station. Shortly after the structure was demolished, the Muslim community in the area took to the streets and staged protests against the local government.
The protests soon turned violent as miscreants threw stones at security personnel, injuring several officers. The violent protesters also vandalized and set fire to several vehicles near the police station.
#BREAK: Violence breaks out in Haldwani in Uttarakhand after a Madrasa in the area was demolished… reports of stone pelting and arson by an angry mob pic.twitter.com/biz2nlA2DW
— Akshita Nandagopal (@Akshita_N) February 8, 2024
The angry mob also set fire to a transformer, causing a power outage in the area, reports said.
They said the violent crowd tried to storm the police station, where several journalists and government officials had taken refuge to escape the crowd.
According to an NDTV report, citing sources, a team of administrative and civilian officials had arrived at the madrasa, which has an adjacent prayer hall, when a crowd of 'unruly elements' attacked them with stones from a distance.
Several government officials and some journalists are also reportedly injured in the violence.
Officials said additional troops have been deployed to restore peace and normalcy in the area, while Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has convened an emergency meeting with senior police and government officials.
According to reports, more than 50 police officers were injured in the clashes and are being treated at a local hospital. Meanwhile, a curfew has been imposed in Haldwani and shoot-down orders have been issued to prevent further escalation.