Opposition parties, civil society groups seek judicial probe into Haldwani violence

Opposition parties, civil society groups seek judicial probe into Haldwani violence

Dehradun, Feb 14

Opposition parties of ‘India Alliance’ along with several civil society groups held a peace march and demonstration, here today, seeking a probe by a sitting or a retired high court judge in the Haldwani violent incident of February 8 which left six persons dead in police firing and nearly a hundred injured.

Members of the opposition parties and civil society groups took a peace march from Gandhi Park to Clock Tower and then held a meeting at the gates of the Gandhi Park condemning the violence and alleged complicity of the state government, Nainital district administration and civic officials of the Haldwani Municipal Corporation in their biased and communal approach during the entire tragic episode. The meeting also condemned the communal agenda of the state BJP government and charged it of failure to act judicially and indulging in a highly communal and biased propaganda against the minorities.

The meeting sought adequate compensation for the families of the dead and those injured in the violence. Opposition leaders charged that the before and after the Haldwani violence the clear cut communal agenda and biased conduct of the state government and local administration is visible with a political communal agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Karan Mahra, Uttarakhand Congress chief said that Haldwani violence was shameful and complete failure of the state administration. He sought an end to the collective punishments and repression of the entire population of Banphoolpura area and demanded compensation for the dead and the injured in the incident. Rajinder Negi of CPM said that ruling BJP has been trying to vitiate the social fabric by its’ highly charged communal agenda which was in play during haldwani incidents.

Dr. Ravi Chopra of Insaniyat Manch said that never in the history of the area such an unfortunate incident had occurred. He alleged that even basic rules and regulations are not being followed.

Indresh Maikhuri, secretary  CPIML, Uttarakhand state said that Banphoolpura action was  premeditated by Nainital district with communal intentions. He said that since half of Haldwani is on ‘Nazool’ land why a mosque and madrassa were chosen for demolition and despite the fact that the matter has been pending in the court and the next date of hearing was February 14. He asked that why the administration was itching for trouble and instigating local people by their provocative actions. He further charged that police and administration has been acting in a ruthless and violent manner. “ The people including women are brutally beaten up and their household belongings destroyed after entering their premises. We have given evidence in the shape of video statements of the injured women but Uttarakhand police has been terming these as false,” he said.

Indresh Maikhuri said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been touring the state and eulogising himself about Haldwani as if it is a trophy. “I remind the Chief Minister that haldwani incidents are a shame and a blot on the state BJP government,” he added.

Kamla Pant of Mahila Manch who conducted the programme charged that police repression has been going in Banphoolpura for the past six days and curfew has not been relaxed. Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni, former Uttarakhand minister Mantri Prasad Naithani, CPI and CPM leaders Samar Bhandari, Surender Singh Sajwan, Anant Akash, Lekhraj, Nirmala Bisht of Mahila Manch, Razia Baig, a former Chairperson of Uttarakhand Bar Council, Gandhian Biju Negi and several other prominent social activists participated in the programme.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Semwal, Uttarakhand Secretary, of Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) in a statement condemning the Haldwani incident demanded a judicial probe by a sitting or retired Supreme court or high court judge and not by an administrative official. The party also sought compensation for the dead and the injured.