Four people are dead and 250 were injured in widespread violence over the demolition of an illegal madrasa and an adjoining mosque in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani. The incident, which unfolded on Thursday, has left the city under curfew, with shoot-at-sight orders issued against rioters and internet services completely shut down. Schools are also shut in light of the violence.

The confrontation reached a boiling point when a team of government officials, accompanied by a significant police presence, attempted to raze the structures following a court order. The authorities had deemed the madrasa and mosque illegal, leading to their demolition. However, this move was met with fierce resistance from a mob in the Vanbhulpura area of Haldwani.

The clash resulted in over 50 policemen being injured, with several administration officials, municipal workers, and journalists also caught in the crossfire. The mob, described as “unruly elements,” pelted stones at the officials, prompting the police to retaliate with tear gas. The violence escalated as vehicles outside the police station were set om fire, further deteriorating the law and order situation.

The demolitions carried out with a heavy police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) presence, aimed to clear government land allegedly encroached upon by the madrasa and mosque. Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena said the demolitions complied with a court order.

As the bulldozer razed the structures, enraged residents, including women, took to the streets in protest. Breaking barricades and engaging in heated confrontations with the police, the situation escalated rapidly. Mobs then hurled stones at law enforcement, municipal workers, and journalists, resulting in injuries and damage to property. The mob also targeted more than 20 motorcycles and set ablaze a PAC-2 bus. 

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, responding to the incident, stated that the team had been dispatched to carry out the demolition after a court order. The Chief Minister stressed that “anti-social elements” in the area had clashed with the police, leading to the current situation. Additional police and central forces are being deployed to restore order, and the Chief Minister has appealed to the public to maintain peace.

Municipal Commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay claimed that the madrasa and namaz site were illegal, highlighting that the Haldwani civic body had previously seized three acres of nearby land and sealed the structures. The Chief Minister, in a meeting with senior officials, discussed the imposition of prohibitory orders and the necessity for a shoot-at-sight policy against rioters to control the escalating unrest.

As a precautionary measure, a curfew has been imposed across Haldwani, resulting in the closure of all shops and schools in the affected areas. The situation remains tense, with the Chief Minister urging officials to deal sternly with “anarchic elements.” The injured are undergoing treatment at Soban Singh Jeena Hospital, with most suffering head and face injuries.

The Uttarakhand High Court had a hearing on Thursday on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to halt the demolition. The court, however, did not grant relief, and the demolition continued. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on February 14.

Mauris Noronha shot dead a prominent leader of Shiv Sena UBT, Abhishek Ghosalkar, on a Facebook live yesterday. The two have been at loggerheads for quite some time and were reportedly burying the hatchet during the video.

Popularly known as Mauris ‘Bhai’, Noronha was a poker player who had gained a positive reputation for assisting thousands of underprivileged individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. He had recently returned to Mumbai from Los Angeles. His intention to contest the upcoming corporator elections took a hit when the son of a prominent Shiv Sena UBT leader, Abhishek Ghosalkar, opposed his candidacy.

The situation further intensified as a case of rape was registered against Noronha, leading to his arrest. Suspecting that Abhishek Ghosalkar was behind the legal troubles he faced, Noronho allegedly came up with a plan and shot Ghosalkar multiple times before taking his own life.

A viral video of the incident, which took place at assailant Noronha’s office in IC Colony in the northern suburb of Borivali (West) on Thursday evening, showed Ghosalkar being shot in the abdomen and shoulder.

Abhishek Ghosalkar (right) had gone to Mauris Noronha’s office to talk and resolve their differences

Two FIRs have been registered in the case, one for murder and the other for suicide. The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police has taken over the investigation into this tragic incident.

Mumbai police have arrested one person after Ghosalkar  was shot and killed on camera. The person arrested, Mehul Parikh, was also reportedly at the site when the shootings took place.

During the live, Noronha gets up to greet Mehul Parikh. Shortly after this, the shootings occur. The police are investigating whether Mr Parikh played any role or had prior knowledge of the shooting.

The murder of Mr Ghosalkar comes days after a BJP MLA was caught on camera firing at a leader of the Eknath Shinde faction, Mahesh Gaikwad.

Aaditya Thackeray, former state minister and the son of Uddhav Thackeray, said that Maharashtra is earning a bad name due to such incidents.

“Now I have received information that bullets have been fired on Abhishek Ghosalkar… How many days should we bear it? Maharashtra is not only getting defamed by this, people are also feeling scared. The most important thing is that the industry will not come to Maharashtra, such a situation has arisen in the state,” Mr Thackeray said.

Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan made headlines this week for a jibe at Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar during the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament. Apologising to all the members of the House during her farewell speech, Ms Bachchan said that she is short-tempered but did not mean to hurt anyone.

“People often ask me why I get angry. That’s my nature, I can’t change myself. If I don’t like or agree with something, I lose my cool,” Ms Bachchan said.

“If I behaved inappropriately with any of you, or got personal, I apologise,” she added.

Fondly remembering the contribution of retiring members from the Rajya Sabha, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said the wisdom shared by them would be greatly missed and their departure would leave a void.

“The retirement of our esteemed colleagues will undoubtedly leave a void. It is often said that ‘every beginning has an end and every end has a new beginning’,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Dhankhar’s remark on a Congress leader over the skipping of a question prompted a strong retort from Jaya Bachchan, who said that the members would have understood if the issue was explained to them and that they are “not schoolchildren”. She also said that the MPs should be treated with respect.

Seeking to defuse the situation a little later, Mr Dhankhar said he had indicated that question number 18, which had been skipped, would be taken up after the reply to question number 19 was complete.

“It will be taken up in a composed manner (and) try to find a way out. Jaya Bachchan ji is a very senior member and if she has a sentiment, then it is bound to be serious with me,” he said.