Police station will be built on freed land in Banbhoolpura, says Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

Violence erupts in Haldwani over demolition of madrasa and mosque, resulting in deaths; recovery notice issued for damages.

Days after the violence in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over the demolition of an allegedly “illegally built” madrasa and mosque left five persons dead, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said a police station would be built on the land “freed from encroachment”.

In another development, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation served a recovery notice to Abdul Malik, the owner of the madrasa and mosque at Banbhoolpura demolished by the administration on February 8, demanding ₹2.44 crore in damages. The notice issued by the Haldwani Municipal Corporation stated that Mr. Malik, who the police say is mastermind of the violence, has to deposit the amount to the civic body within three days (February 15). Mr. Malik has been fined for damage to vehicles including tractors, goods carriers, etc., and equipment such as helmets and crowbars.

“After our teams demolished the structures built by you illegally on government land and were returning back, your supporters engaged in arson and damaged/destroyed/looted properties of the Municipal Corporation and caused loss to government property. Pay the amount within the due date or the amount will be recovered as per the law,” the notice issued to Mr. Malik states.

Speaking at a public rally in Haridwar, Mr. Dhami said the government wants to send a clear message to anarchist elements that anyone who tries to disturb the peace of “Devbhoomi” (Land of Gods) will not be spared. “There was a garden in Banbhoolpura which was encroached upon. That encroachment has been removed and several acres of land was recovered,” said Mr. Dhami.

Accusing miscreants of participating in arson and rioting, he said the rioters violated all laws and created disturbance in the State. He stressed that miscreants attempted to set journalists covering the anti-encroachment on fire and thrashed police personnel.

“From the banks of the mighty river Ganga, I announce that a police station will be built at that place,” Mr. Dhami said.

Meanwhile, the police also suspended arms licences of 127 people of Banbhoolpura to avoid the misuse of the weapons in case of any untoward situation. An order issued by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Fincharam Chauhan said the district police is instructed to take possession of “all weapons within 24 hours”.