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<\/div>\nThe clash led to injuries to over 100 security personnel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Haldwani\/New Delhi: <\/b><\/p>\n
Five people have died in widespread violence over the demolition of an illegal madrasa in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani.<\/p>\n
The demolitions – carried out on Thursday with heavy police presence – aimed to clear government land allegedly encroached upon by the madrasa.<\/p>\n
The demolitions complied with a court order, said Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena.<\/p>\n
Officials said stones were pelted at them from rooftops – where they appeared to have been stocked – prompting the police to retaliate with tear gas.<\/p>\n
The clash led to injuries to over 100 security personnel, with several administration officials, municipal workers, and journalists also caught in the crossfire.<\/p>\n
The violence escalated as vehicles outside the police station were set on fire.<\/p>\n
Police said about 50 people have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the violence, and a case registered against 5,000 unidentified people.<\/p>\n
Uttarakhand police chief Abhinav Kumar said action will also be taken under the stringent National Security Act against those found to be involved in the attacks on police personnel.<\/p>\n
On Friday and Saturday, no further incidents of violence were reported from Banbhoolpura where the madrasa – which included a “structure” where prayers were held – was demolished.<\/p>\n
Curfew has been lifted from the outer areas of this violence-hit Uttarakhand town, but it remains in force in the Banbhoolpura area.<\/p>\n
Over 1,000 police personnel remained deployed in the city, close to Nainital, officials said.<\/p>\n
“Patrolling is continuously being done in the affected area and the situation is under control,” Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, Law and Order, A P Anshuman, who is camping in Haldwani, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.<\/p>\n
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Haldwani and met some of the injured. He termed the violence a “planned attack”, and said arms, stones and petrol bombs were stockpiled by the rioters.<\/p>\n
“Our women police personnel were brutally thrashed. They even tried to throw a journalist into the flames. It was an attempt to disrupt the atmosphere of social amity and peace for which Uttarakhand is known,” Mr Dhami said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n