The police have so far arrested five persons after lodging three FIRs following the riot in Haldwani. The Nainital senior superintendent of police Prahlad Narayan Meena informed that the police are using CCTV camera footage and other evidence to identify the others involved in the violence which left at least five dead persons and several injured in addition to various buildings and vehicles being damaged in arson. Meanwhile, the area under curfew was decreased on Saturday with the authorities keeping only the Vanbhulpura area under curfew. The curfew has been lifted from other parts of Haldwani city.
Addressing the media on Saturday, the SSP informed that based on one complaint from the Municipal Corporation of Haldwani and two from the police, a total of three FIRs have been lodged in the Haldwani riot. The police have formed various teams to investigate the incident. Based on footage from CCTV cameras in the violence hit areas and other evidence, the police have so far arrested five accused. They have been identified as Mehboob Alam, Zishan Parvez, Arshad, Javed Siddiqui and Aslam Chaudhary- all residents of the Vanbhulpura area. The police are checking footage from CCTV cameras and using other clues to identify the others accused in the violence. Police teams are working to arrest the remaining accused. Meena said, “Police personnel were also injured in the Vanbhulpura riot. However, it is good that all the police personnel, employees of the MCH and district administration who were involved in the anti-encroachment operation returned safe from the area. Strict action will be taken against the miscreants involved in breaking the law and order, damaging government property and causing disorder. A man named Abdul Mallik was responsible for undertaking the illegal construction and has been named in this case. The police are searching for him. Strict action will also be taken against those involved in the arson attack on the Vanbhulpura police station,” he said.
The SSP further informed that the Vanbhulpura police station is now fully functioning with all works being undertaken at the police station. The supply of essential commodities is normal.
Meanwhile, considering the improvement in the situation the district administration relaxed the curfew in parts of the city barring the Vanbhulpura area. The movement of vehicles on the Nainital-Bareilly motor road has been allowed and commercial establishments have also been allowed to open.
