Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Haldwani in Nainital of Uttarakhand has been in turmoil since last evening following the vandalism of a 1.25-foot-tall statue of Bhakt Prahlad at the Holika Ground, located near Sindhi Chauraha in the Kotwali area. The incident sparked outrage, with locals expressing their anger over the destruction. Some anti-social elements reportedly attempted to escalate tensions, but the situation was brought under control due to the swift intervention of the police.
Today, the police administration took immediate action, apprehending the accused involved in the incident. Several officials, including City Magistrate AP Bajpai, SP City Prakash Chand, CO Nitin Lohani, Kotwal Rajesh Kumar Yadav, and Banbhulpura Police Station In-charge Neeraj Bhakuni, visited the site where a crowd had gathered to protest.
SP City Prakash Chand said that the police acted promptly upon learning about the vandalism. “We took suo motu cognizance of the incident and swiftly apprehended the accused,” he said. Chand added that the accused, identified as Sonu Kumar, a tent house worker originally from Darbhanga, Bihar, has confessed to the crime during interrogation. “Further legal action is being taken against him,” the SP noted.
City Magistrate AP Bajpai, further said, “In light of public sentiment, the area around Holika Ground has been declared a no-vending zone to maintain peace.” The administration and police’s quick response has been credited with preventing the situation from worsening, and they continue to monitor the area closely.
