Following the Supreme Court’s order on the Haldwani land encroachment case, which was affecting at least 4,300 families, the city is on high alert, and hundreds of officers are being deployed.
The city is grappling with high tension over alleged encroachments on 29-78 acres of railway land in Banbhoolpura. The matter originates from nearly two decades, dating back to a 2007 High Court order to remove encroachment near Haldwani railway station, accompanied by a 2013 PIL on illegal sand mining in the Gaula River, then a 2016 joint survey identified 4,365 encroachments, and a 2022 Uttarakhand High Court directive authorized force for eviction.
The recent matter was first heard by the Uttarakhand High Court ahead of a PIL regarding illegal sand mining in the Gaula River.
On Tuesday, ahead of the Supreme Court’s verdict, more than 400 police personnel, along with PAC units, were deployed in the area. Nainital SSP Manjunath T. C. said paramilitary forces were on standby to step in if the situation turned tense.
“The Supreme Court will rule on the railway land encroachment matter, and we are prepared for the verdict. The entire Banbhoolpura has been cordoned off and divided into four zones. We have deployed three SPs, four COs, eight inspectors, eight SHOs, 400 officers, two companies of PAC, firing and teargas squads, anti-riot force, fire units, and traffic personnel. We have also readied paramilitary forces, such as ITBP and CRPF. The police will crack down on any movement caused by the verdict,” SSP Manjunath T. C. said, and the Indian Express reported.
The Nainital Police warned that the “strictest action” would be taken against anyone damaging government property. Authorities have ordered intensive checks at district borders, deployed heavy police presence in sensitive areas, placed special surveillance on individuals deemed suspicious, and increased monitoring of social media activity.
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