Muslims flee homes amid police brutality in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani
Haldwani: Hundreds of Muslim families have fled their homes due to atrocities and harassment inflicted by Hindutva forces and police personnel upon them in Haldwani city of BJP-ruled Uttarakhand state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the chaos and tragedy unfolded in the Malik Ka Bagicha locality of Haldwani city in Uttarakhand on February 8 as Muslims protested the demolition of a madrassa and mosque by authorities. Six people were killed and and dozens other were injured after police lathi-charged and fired bullets, and tear gas shells at the protesting residents. Media report said that Hindu mobs had joined police to inflict brutalities on the Muslim protesters. The Hindutva activists had also damaged Muslim-owned properties on the streets while hurling abuses against Muslims despite a curfew being in place.
The incident occurred a day after the Uttarakhand state enacted the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), becoming the first Indian state to do so. The UCC mandates the formulation of one common law that all religious communities would be forced to adhere to in personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, regardless of their religious practice.
Several affected families talking to media shared harrowing details of police raids on Muslim households in the dead of the night, compelling many to flee their abodes out of fear and desperation.
A middle-aged woman, requesting anonymity, lamented: “The terror of police raids at 2 or 3 in the morning has become a haunting reality, subjecting us to harassment and abuse. In such dire circumstances, who could endure such plight without seeking refuge elsewhere?”
Echoing her sentiment, an elderly resident expressed profound anguish. “The unrelenting brutality unleashed by the police, including acts of vandalism and physical assault, has coerced us to abandon our homes. Our once vibrant neighbourhoods now lie desolate, with empty streets and shuttered houses haunting the landscape,” he said.
The affected areas, predominantly home to Muslim residents, remain under strict surveillance, with barricades impeding movement and media access strictly prohibited by authorities.
As per media report, during a visit of media team to Malik Ka Bagicha, locals were seen either fleeing their homes or contemplating escape due to escalating fears of retaliation by Indian police and agencies in civic as well as Hindutva activists.
The exodus from the vicinity surrounding Malik Ka Bagicha persists, with families compelled to leave their homes amidst escalating tensions.
The Muslim victim families have demanded a transparent investigation into the events culminating in the tragic incident in the area.
Though the curfew restrictions have been temporarily lifted in the area yet certain sensitive areas remain under tight security, portraying a facade of normalcy.
