NAINITAL: Haldwani Enforces City-Wide Curfew Amid Anti-Encroachment Operation Violence: Stone-Pelting Incident Prompts Emergency Meeting by Chief Minister, Curfew Extended Until Further Orders.

On Thursday evening, the district administration in Haldwani imposed a city-wide curfew and authorized shoot-at-sight orders in response to escalating violence during an anti-encroachment operation in the Banphoolpura area, predominantly inhabited by the minority community.

The tension heightened when residents reportedly threw stones at an anti-encroachment team from the Haldwani municipal corporation, who were there to dismantle an ‘unauthorized’ madrassa and mosque in Malik ka Bagicha.

District authorities reported that during the incident, more than a dozen policemen and municipal corporation staff sustained injuries, and several vehicles were set ablaze. DGP Abhinav mentioned that police teams came under fire.

According to officials, the anti-encroachment team, led by municipal commissioner Pankaj Upadhyay, city magistrate Richa Singh, and SDM Paritosh Verma, arrived with a JCB to dismantle ‘unauthorized’ structures. The enraged crowd pelted them with stones, resulting in injuries, including the SDM, and shattering the JCB’s glass. Despite the turmoil, the demolition work persisted.

In response to the upheaval in the region, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urgently assembled a meeting late on Thursday evening with Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, DGP Abhivav Kumar, and ADG Law and Order AP Anshuman. Following the meeting, Nainital District Magistrate Vandana issued a directive enforcing a city-wide curfew in Haldwani from 9 pm until further notice. Citizens are advised to refrain from going outside except for medical emergencies, and all establishments, excluding hospitals and medical stores, are instructed to stay closed.