The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the state government to present its objections regarding the bail applications of individuals implicated in the Banbhoolpura riots, a violent event that rocked Haldwani on February 8, 2024. The instruction was issued during the hearing of the bail application for Abdul Moeed, son of the alleged riot mastermind, Abdul Malik.
Justices Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Pankaj Purohit of a division bench are overseeing the proceedings. They have given the state two weeks to respond to Moeed’s application, which includes a supplementary affidavit claiming his absence from the riot scene. This development comes after the court had previously denied bail to Malik, instructing him to approach the district court instead.
The riots in question erupted following the demolition of an illegally constructed madrasa and an adjacent prayer area on government property. The ensuing chaos resulted in significant damage, including the torching of a police station and several vehicles. Six lives were lost, and about a hundred individuals, including police officers and journalists, sustained injuries.
Abdul Moeed, along with his father and others, faces charges of orchestrating the communal violence. During the recent court session, the bail plea of another accused, Abdul Chaudhary, was also discussed. The court emphasized the need for a chargesheet detailing the presence of all accused at the riot scene.
