Haldwani Violence: Uttarakhand Police Arrest Abdul Malik in Delhi

The Uttarakhand Police have apprehended the primary suspect, Abdul Malik, along with two accomplices, as confirmed by a senior police official. Inspector General of Police (Provisioning and Modernisation) Nilesh Anand Bharne, who also serves as the Uttarakhand Police spokesperson, announced the arrest of Abdul Malik in Delhi, bringing the total number of arrests to 81.

Arrest Abdul Malik arrested in Delhi

DGP Abhinav Kumar has commended the police team involved in Malik’s capture, offering a cash reward of ₹50,000. This development comes after Malik’s lawyers filed an anticipatory bail plea in the court of an additional district and sessions judge in Haldwani earlier in the day, unaware of his arrest. Lawyer Ajay Kumar Bahuguna stated that they would withdraw the bail application automatically.

Bahuguna further explained that Malik had been absent from Haldwani for two to three days leading up to the violence, asserting he was in Dehradun during the incident. He mentioned their intention to explore all legal avenues, likely including a bail application based on these grounds.

Earlier statements from Nainital senior superintendent of police (SSP) Prahlad Narayan Meena highlighted Abdul Malik’s involvement in illegal construction on “nazul land” and his leadership in protesting against the demolition. Authorities have already seized properties belonging to Malik and his son Abdul Moid.

On February 13, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Abdul Malik, demanding ₹2.44 crore for damages incurred to civic body vehicles and equipment during the violence on February 8.

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The clashes erupted in the Banbhulpura area of Haldwani district following the demolition of Masjid Mariam (mosque) and Abdul Razzaq Zakaria madrasa, alleged to have been illegally built on state government (Nazul) land. The demolition triggered violence, resulting in five deaths and injuring 150 individuals. Shoot-at-sight orders were issued, and a curfew was imposed in response to the unrest.

Subsequent investigations revealed that one presumed casualty, Prakash Kumar Singh, was murdered by a police constable and associates due to an alleged affair with the constable’s wife. Constable Birendra Singh, along with his brother-in-law Suraj Bain and associates Prem Singh and Naeem Khan, were arrested for Singh’s murder. The constable’s wife remains at large.

Following days of turmoil, the Nainital administration lifted the curfew from Banbhulpura on February 20. The Nainital Police registered three FIRs related to the attack on the police station, violence during the anti-encroachment drive, and vandalism of vehicles, invoking various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.