5 women held for Haldwani violence links

DEHRADUN: Nainital district police have arrested five women on Friday for their alleged involvement in the February 8 violence in Baphoolpura, Haldwani. This is the first instance of women being arrested in connection with the riots, police said.

Nainital SSP Prahlad Meena said the women, identified as Shahnaz Ahmed, 45, Soni Mikrani, 33, Shamshir Ahmed, 25, Salma Ahmed, 50, and Reshma, 45, are residents of Banphoolpura. The accused were identified through electronic evidence and information received from informants. They were presented before a local court and subsequently remanded to jail.

Police have arrested 89 individuals in connection with the violence. Abdul Malik, alleged mastermind of the violence, was apprehended in Delhi a few days ago, and his son, Abdul Moeed, was arrested on Thursday.

Five persons had died and over 100, including police personnel, district administration officials and journalists, had sustained injuries in the riots.