The Uttarakhand Police on Saturday said that it has arrested the main accused behind the Haldwani violence earlier this month. Abdul Malik, who is said to be the “mastermind” behind the communal violence, was nabbed from Delhi.
Malik was among the six people booked by Uttarakhand police on charges of criminal conspiracy among others over the incident which claimed at least five lives.
He had been absconding since February 8 when the violence erupted over demolition of a mosque and a madrasa.
The authorities, accompanied by police, had gone to the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani to demolish the mosque and the madrasa which were allegedly built over a government land.
Locals in the area pelted stones at the police and torched several vehicles following which a curfew was imposed and the state government issued shoot at sight orders.
The mob attacked and injured more than 250 policemen and burnt down Banbhoolpura police station leading to complete break down of law and order in the town.
While the police considers Malik the “mastermind” behind the violence, he has reportedly claimed that he was not even in Haldwani when the incident took place on February 8.
Malik, through his lawyer, said that he was in Uttarakhand on February 8 and in Haryana’s Faridabad a day before the incident.
So far, the police have arrested as many as 79 people, including Malik, in connection with the Haldwani violence case and registered three FIRs.
Besides Malik, the Uttarakhand Police had also booked his son for inciting violence, rioting, attacking police and under other relevant charges.