Haldwani Violence: Arrested in Delhi, Main Accused Brought Back to Uttarakhand, is ‘Being Questioned’

Three days after violence broke out in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over the demolition of an illegally built madrassa, the main accused has been arrested.

State government officials told CNN-News18 that Abdul Malik was arrested in Delhi and brought back to Haldwani. “He is being questioned by the police," an officer said.

At least six rioters were killed and 100 injured as violence broke out in Haldwani on Thursday after local authorities started demolishing the madrassa and a prayer site in Bhanbhoolpura. A garden, allegedly owned by Malik, was built around these structures. Malik had allegedly encroached upon government-owned ‘nazool’ land.

Malik was arrested with his son and three others. The five — Malik, Jisan Parves, Javed Siddiqui, Mehboob Alam and Arshad Ayub — have been accused of indulging in rioting, arson, damage to public property and obstructing public servants from doing their work. Javed Siddiqui is the brother of Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Matin Siddiqui. Police claims he was identified after scanning the CCTV footage of the rioters.

Local intelligence inputs suggest the violence was premeditated. The police is trying to ascertain if a conspiracy was hatched.

The Uttarakhand Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill hours before the incident.

More than 5,000 people, including women, are under the police scanner. CCTV footage and mobile videos are being scanned to ascertain the role of the suspects. One video has captured Malik in a heated argument with the local officials.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that police officers were attacked, the police station was gheraoed, petrol bombs were hurled and police vehicles burnt by the mob.

“Uttarakhand is ‘Dev Bhoomi’, this has never happened here. Some people have tried to spoil the atmosphere in ‘Dev Bhoomi’ and took the law in their hands. Journalists were also attacked, their cameras were broken and public properties set on fire. Video footages will be checked and action will be taken. The law will take its course," the CM told the media.