Multiple casualties and dozens of injuries have been reported as violence in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, has finally subsided. The Nainital Police have lifted the curfew in the Banbhoolpura police station area, where clashes erupted last week due to the demolition of an “illegal structure” as part of an anti-encroachment drive by the Uttarakhand government.
However, night curfew will still be in effect from 8pm to 6am in Gaujajali, FSI, and Godown area. In the remaining areas under the Banbhoolpura police station, the night curfew will be enforced from 5pm to 6am, according to the latest order issued by the Nainital Police.
In the midst of the unprecedented communal violence in Haldwani, District Magistrate Vandana Singh has emerged as a hero for defusing the tension. However, some individuals have criticized her decision regarding the demolition of the “illegally” constructed madarsa in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani.
Haldwani violence: Case registered against more than 5,000 individuals by Uttarakhand Police
The hashtag #ArrestVandanaSingh gained popularity on the X platform on Saturday. A Hindi-speaking user expressed, “Nainital DM Vandana Singh Chauhan should be apprehended without delay…!! What led to the demolition of the 20-year-old Mariam Masjid, deeming it unlawful…?????”
Another user stated, “Nainital DM Vandana Singh Chauhan should be taken into custody. What circumstances led to the demolition of the 20-year-old Mariam Masjid, claiming it to be illegal?”.
Nevertheless, Naintal DM Vandana has also garnered backing for her prompt measures in addressing the riots.
“On the X platform, a user expressed their support for Nainital DM Vandana Singh, stating that the ecosystem has rallied in defense of the perpetrators of Haldwani Denge, running the hashtag #ArrestVandanaSingh. The user acknowledged the commendable efforts of the DM and emphasized the necessity of having a capable administrator like her to eradicate illegal settlements in Haldwani.”
Here is a comprehensive overview of IAS Vandana Singh, providing all the essential details. Vandana Singh, originally from Nasrullgarh in Haryana, is an IAS officer belonging to the Uttarakhand cadre, having joined in the year 2012. She pursued her education in Sanskrit honors from Kanya Gurukul Bhiwani and completed her LLB from BR Ambedkar University, Agra.
Impressively, at the young age of 24, Vandana Singh achieved the 8th rank in her first attempt at the UPSC exam. Subsequently, she was appointed as the Chief Development Officer of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the district.
According to certain media reports, Singh also served as the brand ambassador for the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign from 2017 to 2020. In 2020, she assumed the role of the District Magistrate (DM) of Rudraprayag, followed by her appointment as the DM of Almora in 2021. Since 17 May 2023, Vandana Singh has been serving as the DM of Nainital.
The authorities in Haldwani have taken action by attaching the houses of Abdul Malik and Abdul Moeed, who were wanted in connection with the Banbhoolpura violence. Tragically, the clashes resulted in the loss of five lives. In response to the situation, the Uttarakhand government has requested the deployment of four additional paramilitary forces companies from the Centre to the district.