By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun/Haldwani: Abdul Malik, the alleged mastermind of the Haldwani violence case, remains at large even as Uttarakhand Police are conducting raids in UP, Delhi and Haryana. Seeing the connections of Abdul Malik, the police have already issued a look out circular against him. Along with this, the police are also investigating the bank accounts associated with Abdul Malik and his associates. Police are also extracting the call details of Malik to connect the links related to the Haldwani violence. In addition, the Police also continued to attach and confiscate properties of the main accused.
Apart from Abdul Malik, whose property in Haldwani was attached by the police on Saturday and Sunday, the property of Ayaz Ahmed has also been attached. Police said he is a resident of Nai Basti near Gopal Mandir. So far, 58 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the violence over the demolition of an illegally built madrassa in Haldwani.
Along with Abdul Malik, the police are also searching for his son and four other people. It is reported that the police raided the houses of several people associated with Abdul Malik in Uttarakhand. Apart from this, police are also maintaining surveillance in many areas of Bareilly, Haryana and Delhi. During this period, more than 1500 CCTV cameras have been scanned at various places. It is reported that soon the police are also likely to declare a reward on Abdul Malik. Police are also keeping an eye on the bank accounts of Abdul Malik’s relatives. Efforts are also being made to collect information related to them. Besides, work is also being done on call details.
Apart from Abdul Malik, the accused named in the Banphulpura violence, the property of Ayaz Ahmed was attached late last evening.
In a three-hour long operation late on Sunday night, the police also took away a bed, cots, gas cylinder, sofas and slippers from the house. Earlier, the police had attached the houses of five accused including Abdul Malik. It is being claimed that Ayaz’s family lives in one room. There is a veranda outside and a kitchen next to it. After this, the police confiscated all the items kept in the house. When the action was taken, Ayaz’s mother protested outside the house but could not stop the police. It may be recalled that the court had ordered confiscation of the property of nine absconders. Police had arrested Shakeel Ansari, Mokin Saifi and Ziaul Rehman on Saturday and therefore their property was not attached, even as the houses of Abdul Malik, Abdul Moeed, Wasim alias Happa, Raees alias Dattu and Taslim have been attached.
Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat is investigating the incident that took place on 8 February in Banbhulpura. Rawat stated that notices have been sent to all the departments affected by the Haldwani violence. All those officers will be interrogated on different days this week. A written reply will also be sought from them. He has also asked people of the area to present evidence related to the incident, for which he has issued an email ID and phone number. But till now no information has been received by his office. Considering the complexities of the violence, it is likely to take more time to complete the magisterial probe. Rawat claimed that an impartial investigation is being conducted in the entire matter. The investigation report will be sent to the government.
