7 arrested for violence over drinking near Haldwani graveyard, 4 on the run

Dehradun: Seven people have been arrested and four are absconding after a communal clash broke out between two communities in Haldwani's Banphoolpura area after a group of men were allegedly found consuming alcohol near a graveyard, triggering objections from residents of the minority community. The altercation flared up and led to stone-pelting and physical violence on Tuesday night. Police on Wednesday filed a case under BNS sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 191(2) (rioting), and 352 (intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of public peace) and arrested Mohammad Tariq Ansari, Mohammad Kamil Ansari, Shadab Ansari, Adnan Ansari, Shariq Ansari, Satyakam and Shubham Sagar were arrested on Wednesday, while Kunal Sagar, Ajay, Rohan and Ashwani Kumar are currently absconding. Haldwani (city) SP Prakash Chand said Banphoolpura police received information about the incident on Tuesday night, when a caller reported a violent clash between members of two communities involving mutual stone-pelting. "Preliminary investigation suggested that members of one community were drinking alcohol inside a three-wheeler parked near a graveyard. When members of another community confronted them and objected, the situation escalated into a clash involving stone-pelting and physical assault. As more people joined from both sides, the incident intensified until a heavy police force was deployed to control the situation," said Chand. He added that the situation was now under control and that police personnel were maintaining a presence in the area to prevent further unrest. "A probe is underway to arrest the remaining accused," he said.