Haldwani violence not a sudden eruption but a result of escalating communal tensions: Report
New Delhi: A report by citizens’ fact-finding team has said that the February 8 incident of large-scale violence at Banbhulpura in Haldwani city of India’s Uttarakhand state did not happen suddenly but was a continuation of the anti-Muslim campaigns and evictions carried out by the BJP government and Hindutva organizations over the years.
According to Kashmir Media Service, though the official figure says that six people were killed in Haldwani city after protests erupted against the demolition of a mosque and a madrassa on the 8th of this month, but, as per locals, the actual number could be much higher. Dozens were also injured in brutal use of force by police including firing.
The fact-finding team comprising Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Karawan-e-Mohabbat and civil rights activist Sahid Qadri visited Haldwani on February 14 and prepared the report, which was released at an event at the Press Club in Delhi. The report includes information gathered by the team through meetings with local residents, journalists, writers, lawyers and a few unnamed individuals.
“The area remained relatively calm till the evening of February 8. Strangely, the operation was carried out even when the matter was sub-judice, with a court hearing scheduled for February 14. The outrage was caused when the municipal officials came to demolish the mosque and the madrasah, accompanied by the police. Police forcefully removed and beat up women who stopped the bulldozers and refused to hand over sacred items including the Quran before the mosque was demolished which fueled the anger”, the report said.
“Several individuals, including youth, women and minors, were reportedly detained and taken to undisclosed locations for questioning. Days-long curfews and internet bans have worsened the situation. Due to this, the locals told the fact-finding team, they were not even able to convey the real information to the outside world”.
The report further said, “The state government, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, and radical right-wing citizen groups have contributed to a highly polarizing narrative with disturbing elements. The discourse includes creating Uttarakhand as a holy land for Hindus, excluding other religious minorities. Claims of various alleged forms of Jihad, economic and social boycotts of Muslims, and eviction threats have fueled the divisive atmosphere”.
“The chief minister proudly declared the destruction of 3000 masars (dargahs) as an achievement of his government. At the same time, the government remained silent against the illegal construction of Hindu places of worship in forest and government land”, says the report.
