U'khand town on edge as action on madrasa triggers clash, arson

The Uttarakhand government on Thursday issued a "shoot at sight" order and imposed curfew in Haldwani city as violence erupted in Banbhoolpura locality over the demolition of an "illegally built" madrasa, officials familiar with the matter said, adding the area has been fortified with heavy police and paramilitary deployment.

As a bulldozer razed the madrasa and an adjoining mosque-like structure, allegedly built illegally on "nazool land" (owned by state government), in the afternoon, local residents set several vehicles on fire and hurled stones at police personnel and a team of Nainital administration and local municipal workers involved in the demolition, causing injuries to at least 60 people, officials said.

They also set the Banbhoolpura police station alight, following which police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, officials said, adding tension was palpable in the city.

Late on Thursday, Nainital district magistrate Vandana said three to four people died in the violence. "At the violence outside the Banbhoolpura police station, some people fired. In retaliation, the police also fired in the air. Three-four people were brought dead at hospitals with bullet injuries. Their identification is being done," the DM added.