Haldwani: Authorities did not wait for court orders, demolished Madrasa before hearing: Reports
Haldwani: In a controversial move, the Haldwani Municipal Corporation carried out the demolition of a mosque and a madrasa in the Banbhoolpura locality on February 8 as part of an anti-encroachment drive, leading to a violent clash between locals and police officials. The incident escalated with videos depicting arson and stone-pelting circulating widely on social media.
The Mariyam mosque and the Abdul Razzaq Zakariya madrasa, both established in 2002 in Banbhoolpura’s Company Bagh locality, became the epicenter of tension. These structures were under the care of Abdul Malik and his wife, Safia Malik.
Pankaj Upadhyay, Haldwani’s municipal commissioner, revealed that the mosque and madrasa were constructed on nazul land, designated as government land for public utilities. The municipal corporation had issued a demolition notice to Abdul Malik on January 30, asserting their legal grounds for the action.
Safia Malik, on February 6, approached the Uttarakhand High Court, contending that the land on which the religious structures stood had been leased out in 1937 and subsequently sold to her family in 1994. She claimed that a plea to renew the lease had been pending before the district administration since 2007. Seeking interim relief against the demolition, especially for the madrasa catering to impoverished children for "charitable purposes," Malik's case was heard by the court on February 8.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Nainital District Magistrate maintained that the anti-encroachment drive had legal backing through a court directive. However, a copy of the order passed by Justice Pankaj Purohit revealed that the bench merely noted the presence of the parties and scheduled the matter for February 14.
Contrary to official claims, the municipal corporation proceeded with the demolition without awaiting the court's next hearing. Pankaj Upadhyay clarified that although the demolition did not have explicit court approval, it was carried out within legal procedures. "Our action was carried under legal procedures," he stated, emphasizing that the demolition would not have occurred if Malik had obtained a stay from the court.
In response, Ahrar Baig, counsel for Malik, challenged the corporation's stance, alleging a lack of due process. Baig contended that his client was not served a notice and was not provided with the opportunity to present a case. "We were not served a notice or given time to present a case," he asserted, raising questions about the legitimacy of the municipal corporation's actions.
The clash resulted in five fatalities, as reported by Uttarakhand Director General of Police Abhinav Kumar, with an additional 100 police personnel injured during the demolition drive, according to ANI.
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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
