Abdul Malik, the alleged mastermind behind the violent upheaval that rocked Banbhoolpura in Haldwani on February 8, has been apprehended by the Uttarakhand Police. The arrest was made in Delhi, according to Inspector-General Nilesh Bharne, the spokesperson for the Police Headquarters (PHQ), as reported by news agency ANI. With Malik’s arrest, the total number of individuals detained in connection with the violence has reached approximately 80.
Malik’s apprehension follows the filing of a fresh case against him and five others for fraud and criminal conspiracy related to the Haldwani violence. According to Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena, Malik and his wife Safia, along with four others, stand accused of fraudulently utilizing a deceased individual’s name for illicit land plotting, construction, and transfer. They allegedly conspired to deceive government departments and the court through false affidavits, stated a police official quoted by ANI.
The accused have been charged under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 417 (cheating), and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as per police reports.
Previously, three FIRs were lodged in connection with the violence, with a total of 78 arrests made thus far. The turmoil erupted following the demolition of an unauthorized madrasa in Banbhoolpura. In the ensuing chaos, rioters reportedly pelted stones and hurled petrol bombs at municipal workers and law enforcement personnel. The situation escalated to the extent that police officers sought refuge in a police station, which was subsequently set ablaze by the mob.
The violent clashes resulted in the deaths of six rioters and left over a hundred individuals injured, including police personnel and members of the media, according to official sources.
In addition to mastermind Malik’s arrest, the police have issued a lookout notice for his son, Abdul Moid, and seized the family’s property in the town. Malik, allegedly the builder of the illegal madrasa, vehemently opposed its demolition, prompting his wife to challenge the municipal corporation’s demolition notice in court.
Furthermore, authorities have identified an NGO suspected of inciting the rioters by collecting funds. This revelation comes more than ten days after the violence shook Haldwani, underscoring the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to unravel the events and individuals responsible for the unrest.
