On Thursday, February 8, a violent upheaval gripped the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani during an anti-encroachment operation, resulting in significant casualties and injuries, according to State ADG Law & Order AP Anshuman.
Anshuman reported, “Four individuals lost their lives in the violence-stricken Banbhoolpura, with over 100 policemen sustaining injuries.”
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the death toll, with some sources indicating six fatalities, including Johnny and Anas, a father-son duo, alongside Aris, Faheem, Israr, and Siwan.
The tumult ensued as authorities, led by Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay and SDM Paritosh Verma, following a court order, initiated the demolition of an illegal structure, identified as a madarsa-mosque, within a Muslim-dominated locality adjacent to the Banbhoolpura police station.
Three to four people have #Died and over 100 people, primarily police personnel, have been injured in the Banbhoolpura violence so far in #Haldwani pic.twitter.com/yeqY5PqXis
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) February 9, 2024
Upon arrival, law enforcement officers were met with a violent Islamist mob, armed with stones and firearms, initiating acts of arson and vandalism. Multiple vehicles and houses were set ablaze amidst the chaos.
In response to the escalating violence, the city has been placed under a strict curfew, with directives issued for the use of force against rioters and a complete shutdown of internet services. The DM has also issued shoot-at-sight orders against rioters.
“The administration has also ordered the closure of all schools and colleges,” affirmed the Nainital District Administration.
Visuals of Police vehicles that were set on fire by a radical mob in #Haldwani
High level meeting has been called by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
Curfew imposed in some areas pic.twitter.com/vmbfft4LMt
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) February 8, 2024
Responding to the crisis, the Uttarakhand government issued a statewide high alert as a precautionary measure.
Inspector General Nilesh Anand Bharne reported the dispatch of four paramilitary companies to Haldwani, with two Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies deployed from Udham Singh Nagar.
Early morning visuals from #Haldwani
where violence broke out yesterday following anti-encroachment driveCurfew was enforced in Banbhoolpura on the orders of the District Magistrate pic.twitter.com/avXz2plu60
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) February 9, 2024
Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar disclosed ongoing efforts to reinforce security measures, including a plea for additional central paramilitary personnel from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is convening with top officials to evaluate the situation and devise a strategic response plan. The closure of schools in Haldwani remains enforced due to the ongoing violence.
DM called it a planned attack
Expressing grave concern over the incident, Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh termed it regrettable and assured that the perpetrators would be identified and dealt with severely. She emphasised that the incident was devoid of any communal aspect and urged the public not to escalate it into a communal or sensitive issue.
Addressing the media on Friday (February 9), DM Vandana Singh provided insights into the violence, confirming the deaths of two individuals. She refuted claims regarding the targeted property, clarifying that it was an unoccupied premise, not designated as a religious structure.
It is an empty property that has two structures, which is not registered as religious structure or has been given any such recognition
– DM Nainital on structures demolished in #Haldwani pic.twitter.com/PjjSFRb8hF
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) February 9, 2024
According to DM Singh, the demolition initiative began peacefully but escalated when assailants launched an organised attack on the Municipal Corporation team. She highlighted that despite the administration’s efforts to maintain order, a large mob instigated violence, leading to casualties and injuries among law enforcement personnel.
“They wanted to burn us alive’
Lady officer in #Haldwani narrates how police were hiding in a house to save themselves from stone pelting and then around 15 people entered the house, assaulted them and then tried to set the house on fire with an intention to burn them aIive pic.twitter.com/esG2W8XvqR
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) February 9, 2024
The DM underscored that the demolition drive was part of a broader effort sanctioned by the High Court to address encroachments across various locations in Haldwani. She asserted that the administration’s actions were within legal bounds and aimed at upholding public order.
Efforts to terrorise the area were reported, prompting authorities to prioritise the protection of key installations and residential areas. Tear gas and water cannons were utilised solely for defensive purposes, particularly to safeguard the police station.
Tragically, two fatalities and over 100 injuries among law enforcement officers occurred during the violence in Banbhoolpura. In response, the district administration enforced a suspension of internet services and ordered the closure of educational institutions.
Demographic shift in the region
In March last year, the Uttarakhand government initiated a significant operation, utilising bulldozers to dismantle illegal mazars constructed through encroachment on reserved forest land. A thorough survey conducted by authorities revealed approximately 1400 religious structures erected unlawfully on government-owned property.
Prior to this, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated his administration’s resolute stance against the proliferation of illegally constructed mazars on designated forest lands across the state. Notably, this issue extended to the revered Jim Corbett National Park, situated in the picturesque Nainital district amid the Himalayan foothills.
In September 2021, reports emerged of a concerning phenomenon labelled as “land jihad” near the Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand. An illegal mosque, established in the early 2000s near Khand-Khala Koti Colony in close proximity to the dam, prompted recurrent protests by Hindu groups striving to reclaim over 150 square meters of land unlawfully occupied by the structure.
In May 2022, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced decisive action against the proliferation of mazars throughout the state, denouncing them as encroachments on public land.
Subsequently, in June 2022, investigative efforts were undertaken across Uttarakhand, including within the confines of Jim Corbett National Park, revealing a proliferation of Mazars within the sanctuary’s boundaries.
Swami Darshan Bharti, a venerable saint actively combating illegal mazars and drug addiction in the region, also highlighted the worsening situation. Expressing grave concern, Swami Darshan Bharati highlighted the radical nature of this issue afflicting Uttarakhand. Moreover, he shed light on the historical context, attributing the influx of illegal settlers, notably the Roginyas, to the previous Congress government led by ND Tiwari, rather than the incumbent BJP administration.
Following heightened awareness spurred by media reporting on demographic shifts in Uttarakhand, the state government took decisive action. Directing authorities to address encroachments on forest land, a comprehensive crackdown ensued, marked by the deployment of bulldozers to dismantle illegal mazars established through encroachment on reserved forest land.
