Uttarakhand Seeks More Central Forces To Arrest Haldwani Unrest

Haldwani: Even as situation in Haldwani is reportedly getting back to normalcy, Uttarakhand has sought for more paramilitary forces from the Centre to maintain law and order in the area under Banbhoolpura police limits where the violence erupted killing six and injuring many on Thursday.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Radha Raturi on Saturday urged the Union Home Ministry for four additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) companies. “In view of the continuous disruption of law and order by anarchist elements during the demolition of encroachment in Malik ka Bagicha under Banbhoolpura police station area on February 8, four additional companies of central paramilitary force are required for law and order duty in the district,” wrote Raturi.

Four CAPF companies and seven PAC companies were already deployed after violence erupted, as per ADG Law and Order AP Anshuman.

As per reports, on Sunday, though tension remained high, most shops in the Banbhoolpura area reopened and the mobile internet service cut off in some areas was restored.

Violence had erupted in Haldwani on Thursday after the administration conducted a drive to demolish a mosque and madrasa that allegedly were on government land not officially mentioned in revenue records. Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami had issued shoot-on-sight orders as tension increased.