Days after the violence in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over the demolition of an allegedly “illegally built” madrasa and mosque left five persons dead, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said a police station would be built on the land “freed from encroachment”.
In another development, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation served a recovery notice to Abdul Malik, the owner of the madrasa and mosque at Banbhoolpura demolished by the administration on February 8, demanding ₹2.44 crore in damages. The notice issued by the Haldwani Municipal Corporation stated that Mr. Malik, who the police say is mastermind of the violence, has to deposit the amount to the civic body within three days (February 15). Mr. Malik has been fined for damage to vehicles including tractors, goods carriers, etc., and equipment such as helmets and crowbars.
“After our teams demolished the structures built by you illegally on government land and were returning back, your supporters engaged in arson and damaged/destroyed/looted properties of the Municipal Corporation and caused loss to government property. Pay the amount within the due date or the amount will be recovered as per the law,” the notice issued to Mr. Malik states.
