Haldwani violence: Key accused and mastermind Abdul Malik arrested in Delhi
New Delhi: The Uttarakhand Police on Saturday arrested Abdul Malik, the key accused and mastermind in the recent violence in the Haldwani district of the Himalayan state, from Delhi.
At least five persons were killed and more than a dozen wounded.
The violence broke out on February 8 when Mailk gathered a huge mob after the authorities went to demolish a mosque and madrasa he was allegedly running on encroached government land in the Bandipura area.
The rioters attacked the police, torched their vehicles, and tried to storm a police station, according to the media reports.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami had issued shoot-on-sight orders.
Following the violence, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation asked Malik to deposit Rs 2.44 crore to cover damage caused to government property.
According to eyewitnesses, the demolition drive started around 4.30 pm on February 8, and soon after it was finished around 5.30 pm, stone pelting started, which escalated to arson and gherao of the police station.
As the available police forces proved insufficient, reinforcements were brought in, and the situation was brought under control by 9 pm.
(VP)
