Days after the police killings that shook Uttarakhand’s Haldwani on 8 February over protests against the demolition of a Madrasa and mosque in the Banbhoolpura area, the police have begun confiscating the houses of Muslims named in the FIR.
The Haldwani Civil Court issued orders to confiscate the property of nine people, including Abdul Malik and his son Abdul Moeed, the alleged masterminds of the protest.
Malik had constructed the Madrasa and mosque and had vehemently opposed its demolition. He was named as the mastermind behind the protests in the police FIR.
Videos showed the police removing the doors as well as door frames of Abdul Malik and his son Abdul Moeed’s house.
The court has permitted the police to take action against all the accused under sections 82 and 83 of CrPC. The civil court has also issued non-bailable warrants against all nine accused.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar on Friday said that as many as 30 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Haldwani. However, a fact-finding report by APCR and Karawan-e-Mohabbat noted that over a hundred people were picked up by the police, and official figures are not accurate.
On 8 February, police violence broke out following protests against the demolition of the Madrasa and mosque in the Banbhoolpura area. At least seven people were killed, and more than 100 were injured. Six out of seven were Muslims.
However, the fact-finding report noted that Muslims in the area fear the death toll is higher than 20.
The report claimed that despite the matter being sub judice, authorities moved to demolish the sealed mosque and madrasa, triggering anguish in the Muslim community.
