Haldwani violence claims two lives, three critical
Haldwani (PTI): Two persons were killed and three critically injured in the violence that broke out over the demolition of an illegally-built madrasa and a place for offering namaz inside its premises in the town where curfew has been imposed and shoot-at-sight orders issued.
Nainital District Magistrate (DM) Vandana Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Meena, who held a joint press conference here on Friday, confirmed the two deaths in the violence that broke out on Thursday.
Meena said the police had to use force in self-defence.
The situation in the town is under control with curfew imposed and around 1,100 police personnel deployed there, he said.
Giving details, the DM said the structures stood on encroached government land and were demolished after a prior notice in compliance of a court order.
The demolition drive began after the Municipal corporation had taken complete legal possession of the two structures, she said.
Rioting by residents of the area began 30 minutes after the demolition of the two structures which were not registered, the DM said.
Police personnel were pelted with stones by the mob of rioters who were dispersed without using unnecessary force. They also hurled petrol bombs at the Banbhoolpura police station.
The bomb-hurling mob was also controlled by police without using much force but it had to retaliate when they came to the police station and set fire to it
Police vehicles in large numbers were torched and there were also attempts by rioters to burn police personnel alive forcing them to run to the police station for cover, she said.
As the violence escalated on Thursday, all the shops in Haldwani were closed. After the imposition of curfew, all schools from Classes 1-12 in and around the city have also been closed.
Meena had said on Thursday that the madrasa stood on an illegally encroached government land and the demolitions were carried out in the heavy presence of police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel in compliance with a court order.
Angry residents, including women, in large numbers descended on the streets to protest the action as the demolition of the two structures began.
They were seen breaking barricades and arguing with the police personnel engaged in the demolition exercise.
VIDEO | “It was not an isolated activity and wasn’t targeted towards one asset. A drive has been going on to save the government assets for a very long time in Haldwani. This property is vacant and has two structures nowhere registered as religious structures,” says Nainital DM… pic.twitter.com/qsRlMhgd8N
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 9, 2024
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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.
