Situation tense in Haldwani, JCB, several vehicles damaged, 20 policemen injured and PS burnt in Banphoolpura, Haldwani

While general elections are nearing and the state’s ruling political dispensation has just passed the bill on Uniform Civil Code to make it a law waiting for the governor’s consent and chief minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami being welcomed and cheered with petals and garlands on the other hand in Banphoolpura, Haldwani a routine has erupted when the municipal authority officials and police went to demolish an illegally built religious structure in a garden area of an owner. According to the latest news the local residents of Banphoolpura area in Haldwani, Kumaon division in Uttarakhand have pelted stones on the officials of Municipality and police leading to a riotous situation. There are reports of more than 20 policemen and the senior officer of Ramnagar police post/ station having been injured. The rioters have damaged the police Jeep, the JCB and burnt several vehicle cles including the police Jeep and tractor etc. The people on toof tops clandestinely pelted stones on municipal officials and police personnel and had also Burnt the Ballupura police station reveals the latest reports. About two companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary have been dispatched to Haldwani. There are news report that about 4 PM the police and the Municipal officials, went to the garden in Ballupura to demolish the religious structure reportedly built in a land illegally occupied. As soon as the teams reached the spot to demolish the illegal structures there are reports that people from all sides started objecting to the demolition exercise. The police had to resort to force and the enraged people started pelting stones in them from various places including roof tops injured about twenty policemen and Ramnagar Kotwali chief etc. The situation turned riotous with several vehicles damaged and burnt compelling police to burst tear gas shells to keep away the enraged protestors. Even the enraged people reached the police station and burnt it. The situation in Haldwani seems to be precarious and tension prone with PAC dispatched to reach the affected areas. The Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Garima Dasani while criticizing the BJP led Congress government in Uttarakhand on Haldwani situation wrote on social media platform X : The situation like riots in Malik Bagh of Haldwani is a complete administrative lapse. The government is being given wrong feedback by the officials, despite the High Court fixing the date of 14th February for the hearing of the alleged land dispute, why is the administration acting so quickly? Why did the administration arrive unprepared and why did the government fail to assess the situation? This is a failure of the entire Dhami government and its administration, a failure of intelligence.