Uttarakhand: Haldwani violence mastermind Abdul Malik arrested in Delhi

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand police on Saturday arrested the key accused in the violence that took place in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani on February 8. The arrested accused, Abdul Malik, will soon be produced in court, said the police.

State Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar has announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for the Uttarakhand Police team that arrested Abdul Malik from Delhi, spokesperson IG Nilesh Bharne said.

#WATCH | Nainital Police has reached Haldwani after arresting Abdul Malik, the mastermind of the violence that took place on February 8 in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, from Delhi. pic.twitter.com/QRlONTSVIj

— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2024

Uttarakhand Police Headquarters (PHQ) spokesperson Nilesh Anand Bharne said, “The Nainital police were in a constant search for the mastermind of the Haldwani violence. The mastermind, Abdul Malik, today has been arrested in Dehli”. “The arrested accused will soon be produced in court”, Bharne added.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the police said that a total of 74 people had been arrested in the case. The authorities had said that the violence had broken out during an anti-encroachment drive in Haldwani.

Stone-pelting incidents, torching of vehicles, and a mob surrounding the local police station were witnessed during the violence. To contain the situation, the administration had to issue a shoot-at-sight order in the area.

The Municipal Corporation here issued a recovery notice of Rs 2.44 crore against Abdul Malik, a key accused in the violence at Haldwani, asking him to deposit the money to cover damage caused to government property during the clash.

In the violence, four people were killed and 250 policemen were injured. According to the police, the mob burnt down Banbhulpura police station. A curfew had to be imposed in the entire town for two days. (ANI)