CM orders to shoot rioters in Haldwani; situation tense in Uttarakhand

HALDWANI: Tension broke out in Haldwani in Nainital district after an illegally constructed madrasa in government land was razed down by authorities. It is reported that more than 50 police officials have been injured in the clash after a mob threw stones at police who came to assuage the situation.

The demolition was jointly carried out by Nainital district administration authorities and local civil authorities. Enraged by the happenings, the residents unleashed violence against the government officials by setting many vehicles on fire near the police station premises. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami after discerning the situation has given shoot at sight orders in the area.

According to the latest report, rioters will be marked and shot at sight. The situation is still escalating in the area with angry rioters attacking police. More police officials have been deputed in the region and a curfew has also been imposed to bring back normalcy. Most roads in the area are now barricaded and closed.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called an emergency meeting to assess the situation. Dhami responded that the demolition was done following the court order. The CM also said that all rioters involved in the act would be identified and brought before the law.

Journalists who were in the location were also injured in the stone-pelting incident.