Abdul Malik, the “key accused” in the Haldwani violence, and two other individuals have been taken into custody, according to a statement released by the Uttarakhand Police on Saturday.
The Uttarakhand Police spokesman, Inspector General of Police (Provisioning and Modernization), Nilesh Anand Bharne, claimed that Abdul Malik was apprehended by a team in Delhi.
Six teams, including those from Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, were reportedly created by the police to look for Malik and his son Abdul Moid in various states. In the Haldwani neighborhood of Banbhoolpura, Malik is charged with constructing a “illegal” madrasa. The city’s violence began on February 8th as a result of its destruction.
Abdul Malik—who is he?
Abdul Malik, a prominent figure in the Indian political landscape, owns wide chunks of land in Haldwani. In 2004, he ran in the Lok Sabha elections, but lost to a Congress candidate. Despite this, his lawyers have filed an anticipatory bail application in the court of Haldwani, claiming that the bail application will be automatically cancelled. Malik’s involvement in the political landscape is a testament to his political acumen and his vast land holdings.
Furthermore, he asserted that Malik was not present in Haldwani at the time of the incident. “Malik had left Haldwani two or three days before to the event, and he wasn’t in the town on the day of the assault. He mentioned being in Dehradun.
However, the arrest comes after he was given shelter in Delhi by someone. The police are currently bringing him to Haldwani by evening. Abdul Malik’s son is still absconding in the case. His lawyers, Ajay Kumar Bahuguna and Shailabh Pandey have informed the authorities that Abdul Malik has filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Sessions Court of Haldwani, demanding a stay on his arrest. Uttarakhand Police is bringing Abdul Malik to Haldwani.
Looking back at the Violence in Haldwani
In Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura locality, violence erupted over the demolition of a madrasa that Malik had “illegally built.” Malik had objected to the administration’s decision, and his spouse Safia had filed a lawsuit against the Corporation, arguing that the notice for the madrasa’s destruction was unlawful. But when the court declined to give them relief, the building was destroyed, which led to demonstrations in the predominantly Muslim neighborhood.
However, Malik and his wife were arrested by the police after an irate mob set fire to the Banbhoolpura Police Station. The mob, which had attempted to disperse through lathi charges and teargas shells, escalated tension and set fire to several vehicles. The IPC charged six people, including Malik, with criminal conspiracy and illegal plotting, construction, and transfer of land. A curfew was imposed, and they were charged under sections 120B and 417 of the IPC.
Abdul Malik, the mastermind of the Haldwani violence arrested
The suspected architect of the violence in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani has been taken into custody in Delhi.
The Nainital Police later transported him to Haldwani. Six people were killed and over a hundred were injured in the violence that broke out over the destruction of an illegally constructed madrasa in the Banbhoolpura district. The madrasa was established by Abdul Malik, who fiercely fought its removal, and his wife contested the notice of demolition issued by the municipal corporation.
Additionally, Abdul Malik and his son Abdul Moid have been arrested in Nainital for criminal conspiracy and fraudulently using a dead man’s name for illegal plotting, construction, and land transfer. Abdul Malik and his wife Safia have been issued a lookout notice. Malik’s lawyer filed an anticipatory bail plea at a Haldwani court, with a hearing scheduled for February 27. The lawyer questioned the reason behind naming Malik as the main accused, claiming he was not involved in the violence.
