The death toll in violence that erupted over the demolition of illegally constructed madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Haldwani of Uttarakhand rose to five on Friday and over 100 police personnel injured.
The district magistrate issued orders for curfew and shoot-at-sight against the rioters soon after the violence took place. All nearby schools and colleges also remained shut on February 9. High alert has been issued in the entire state by the Uttarakhand government after violence broke out in Banbhoolpura region of Haldwani.
A high level meeting was called by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the incident to review the situation.
Mr. Dhami asked to take stringent actions against those involved in the violence.
Following a court’s order over the illegally constructed madrasa and the adjoining mosque, a team of government officials with local police razed the structures. After which locals including women in large came on streets to protest against the act.
The mob broke all the barricades and argued with the police personnel over the incident. The officials said, “as bulldozer razed the madrasa and the mosque, mobs hurled stones at the police personnel, municipal corporation workers and journalists, leaving over 60 people injured”.
