On February 11th, a video emerged online showing Abdul Malik, identified as the instigator of recent disturbances in Haldwani, in a confrontational exchange with the city's Mayor over a disputed piece of land. Malik, apprehended on Sunday, was captured on video challenging the Mayor who had arrived to reclaim the property reportedly encroached upon illegally. The incident also involved the detention of Javed Siddiqui, recognized as the sibling of SP leader Mateen Siddiqui, and Jishan Parvez, a former councillor, both linked to the Haldwani incident.

In January, prior to the outbreak of violence, the madrasa located in Banboolpura, which later became a focal point of the conflict, received a notice to vacate. An earlier video from January resurfaced on social media depicting Malik in a heated discussion with Pankaj Upadhyay, the Mayor. Malik is heard asserting his rights to the land, claiming, “I have a 99-year lease for this land, and you are asking us to vacate it.” Upon being asked by Upadhyay to produce documentation, Malik retorted that the Mayor should verify the details at the municipal office.

Malik further declared, “This lease has expired, and we have not converted this land to freehold. In Haldwani, most of the land is on leasehold, and very few people have converted it to freehold. We will not vacate the land.” This statement came despite acknowledging the lease had ended, suggesting a refusal to relinquish the land.

Mayor Pankaj Upadhyay, clearly frustrated by Malik's defiance and admission of the lease's expiration, countered firmly. He stated, “Your land lease has expired… You have not converted it to freehold. I am taking possession of the land; you can go wherever you want. You must vacate this place immediately,” emphasizing the illegality of the encroachment and the immediate need for vacating the property.

Abdul Malik was apprehended in Delhi on February 11th. Following the unrest, Haldwani's situation has been stabilized, with efforts ongoing to detain those involved in the disturbances. Among those arrested in Banbhoolpura are five protesters, which include two councillors, a mining businessman, and a brother of a Samajwadi Party leader. Abdul Malik has been pinpointed as a principal orchestrator of the disorder that ensued when officials attempted to dismantle an unlawfully established mosque and madrasa, leading to his evasion since the conflict's onset. To facilitate his capture, two teams were deployed to western Uttar Pradesh, resulting in the detention and questioning of over seventy-five individuals related to the events.

Haldwani Violence: Police Arrest Junaid, Nizam, Mehboob, and 27 Others, Efforts on to Arrest Main Accused Abdul Malik

The Uttarakhand Police, on February 11th, announced the apprehension of an additional 25 individuals linked to the recent disturbances in Haldwani's Banbhoolpura, bringing the total arrests related to this case to 30, with five previously detained. During these operations, law enforcement recovered 7 country-made firearms and 54 rounds of live ammunition.

In a press briefing held on the same day, SSP Nainital, Prahlad Narayan Meena, detailed the ongoing investigation efforts. "3 FIRs (case numbers 21/24, 22/24, 23/24) have been filed regarding this incident. Dedicated investigative teams are assigned to each case, and their investigations are underway. Among the 25 newly arrested individuals, we have seized 7 country-made pistols and 54 live rounds. The assailants also targeted the Banbhoolpura police station during their rampage, taking government-owned ammunition of various calibers. We have since recovered 67 live rounds of 7.62mm and 32 rounds of 9mm. With the initial five and the 25 recent arrests, the total number of detainees has reached 30," Meena explained.

Further information provided by SSP Nainital to ANI highlighted the recovery of 99 rounds of police ammunition that had been looted by the rioters during their attack on the Banbhoolpura police station on February 8th. He also mentioned that the police are actively pursuing the chief suspect, Abdul Malik, aiming for his prompt arrest.

The police official reported a gradual restoration of peace in the area impacted by the riots, noting that traffic flow has normalized. Educational institutions have resumed examinations, witnessing high student attendance. Furthermore, the police have been actively involved in community support, distributing milk and other essentials to the residents of Banbhoolpura. It was also mentioned that the curfew enforced in certain sectors is expected to be lifted in the upcoming days, signaling a return to normalcy.

In a recent update, the Uttarakhand Police publicized a list of individuals detained in connection with the Banbhoolpura unrest. Through a post on X, they announced, "Big action by Uttarakhand Police in Banbhulpura violence, 07 pistols, 54 live cartridges and 99 live cartridges looted from the police station were also recovered from the possession of 25 unruly accused.”

The individuals apprehended include Junaid, Mohammad Nizam, Mehboob alias Maku, Shahzad alias Kanakada, Abdul Majid, Shajid, Mohammad Naeem, Shahnawaz, Shakir Ahmed, Isharar Ali, Shanu alias Raja, Raees alias Bitt, Gulzar, Raees Ahmed, Farid, Javed, Saad, Tasleem, Ahmed Hasan, Shahrukh, Arjana, Rihan, Jishan, Muzammil, and Majid, marking a significant step by the police in addressing the aftermath of the violence and restoring order.

On Sunday, representatives from both Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind made a visit to Haldwani. During this visit, Maulana Arshad Madani, the head of Jamiat, expressed his disapproval of the police's actions in the region, describing the report from the delegation as 'extremely painful'. He criticized the police for what he sees as unjust treatment towards the community, including the harassment of women and unwarranted entry into homes, calling for an end to what he termed a "nefarious series of arrests."

In response to these accusations, DGP of Uttarakhand, Abhinav Kumar, firmly denied any claims of prejudice in the police's actions. He stated, “The police acted in the lawful exercise of their right to self-defence in the discharge of their official duties. We have sufficient audio-visual evidence to this effect. It will be presented in the ongoing magisterial inquiry and criminal investigation. We intend to act without any bias in full accordance with the law.” This statement underscores the police department's commitment to lawfulness and impartiality in their response to the situation.

Haldwani Violence

On February 8th, an attempt by civic officials to dismantle an unauthorized madrasa on government property in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, was met with violence from a group within the Muslim community. This incident sparked widespread unrest in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, culminating in the deaths of at least six individuals and injuries to more than 300 police officers. Superintendent of Police, Harbans Singh, verified these events on February 9th. In response, the Uttarakhand authorities have initiated legal proceedings, filing three First Information Reports (FIRs) against 5,000 unidentified and 19 identified suspects. Amidst the crackdown on those involved in the rioting, various intellectuals and figures identified with left-liberal ideologies have voiced their support for the individuals who resisted the police during the said confrontation.

This legal action against the illegal structure was prompted by a decision from the Uttarakhand High Court on February 8th, which declined to provide Safia Malik among others, any reprieve from the scheduled demolition, thereby supporting the stance of the police and municipal corporation in their enforcement against unauthorized construction on state land.