Posters featuring ‘wanted rioters’ are placed across the town as the search for the astermind continues in the aftermath of Haldwani violence.

The images of nine rioters, who are suspected of causing mayhem in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura neighborhood due to the destruction of an unlawful madrassa earlier this month, were made public by the Uttarakhand Police on Friday, February 16.

Through its X account, the state administration posted pictures of “wanted” protestors. According to the police, a watchful notice has also been issued for Abdul Malik, the main suspect in the violence, and his son, Abdul Moid. After five additional rioters were taken into custody, the total number of rioters detained in relation to the stone-pelting and arson events on February 8 increased to 42.
Malik had built the madrassa and fought against its dismantling. The conflicts are allegedly orchestrated by him.

Release of rioters’ posters
Nine “wanted rioters,” including Abdul Malik and his kid, had posters up throughout the town requesting that anybody with information about them contact the police.

The “wanted rioters” include Taslim, Wasim, Ayaz, Raees, Maukeen, Shakil Ansari, and Zia ul Rahman, in addition to Malik and his kid.

According to authorities, teams of officers are looking for the criminals wherever they can.

The Banbhoolpura neighborhood, the epicenter of the violence, continued to have a relaxed curfew on Friday for a few hours with certain limitations. But the local internet service was not brought back, and it was interrupted for the eighth day.

Curfews in the town’s Banbhoolpura region were loosened by the authorities on Thursday for varying lengths of time.

In Haldwani, there is violence
On February 8, protests over the destruction of an illegally constructed madrassa in the Banbhoolpura district erupted into violence. Residents threw stones and petrol bombs at police and municipal employees, causing many of the officers to take cover in a police station, which the crowd later set on fire.

According to the authorities, more than 100 people were hurt in the violence, including media representatives and police officers, and six rioters were murdered.