In a drastic move, authorities in Haldwani, a northern Indian town, have imposed an indefinite curfew and authorized police to use force, including shooting, against violators. This stern measure comes in the wake of violent clashes over the construction of a Muslim seminary and mosque, resulting in at least five fatalities and over 150 injuries, as confirmed by officials on Friday.
The turmoil on Thursday prompted the shutdown of internet services and schools in Haldwani, according to Chief Radha Raturi, a senior official from Uttarakhand state government. The situation, marked by thousands of protesters resisting the demolition of the structures, was eventually brought under control with the deployment of nearly 4,000 police officers to the area, as stated by police officer A.P. Anshuman. He emphasized that the police had been given orders to use force, including shooting, against those violating the curfew.
The unrest unfolded when protesters attempted to obstruct government officials and police tasked with demolishing the seminary and mosque, following a court order claiming that the structures were erected on government land without local authorization. As tensions escalated, police responded with live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the protesters, who were using petrol bombs and stones to attack a police station and set vehicles ablaze, reported Anshuman.
State police chief Abhinav Kumar confirmed the death toll at five, providing no further details but asserting that no new violence had been reported on Friday. Government administrator Vandana Singh Chauhan disclosed that over 150 police officers were injured, with several individuals hospitalized.
Haldwani, situated approximately 270 kilometers (170 miles) northeast of New Delhi, has become a focal point of contention, reflecting broader concerns raised by Muslim groups and rights organizations. Accusations have been made against India’s Hindu-nationalist government, alleging the unjust demolition of homes and businesses. While officials defend these actions as targeting illegal structures, critics decry what they perceive as a disturbing trend of “bulldozer justice” disproportionately affecting activists from minority groups.
Amnesty International, in a recent report, condemned instances of bulldozers demolishing Muslim properties, branding it as cruel and unjust “bulldozer justice.” Agnès Callamard, the secretary-general of the rights group, characterized such actions as deeply discriminatory and unlawful. The report highlighted that between April and June 2022, authorities in five states employed demolitions as a punitive measure following incidents of communal violence or protests, documenting at least 128 demolitions during this period.
Critics have consistently accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning a blind eye and sometimes tacitly endorsing hate speech against Muslims, who constitute 14% of India’s 1.4 billion people.
