TENSION CONTINUES to prevail in Haldwani's
Kamalua-ganja area a day after several angry workers of the ruling BJP,
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal blocked traffic for hours
and damaged shops on Friday to protest the demolition of a temple. The
police lathicharged the workers who were from various wings of the
saffron brigade after they indulged in heavy brick batting and damaging
shops in Kusumkhera area, said the SSP of Nainital District, G.S.
Martolia.

"The damaged shops belonged to traders belonging to
the minority community," Martolia told Hindustan Times. "The rioters
came on scooters and motorcycles and began throwing stones at the shops.

They were coming from Kamaluaganja after blocking traffic for hours
outside a factory premises," the SSP said. He said the rioters had
organised a sit-in on the Kaladhungi-Haldwani road outside the factory
in protest against the demolition of a temple.

They were
demanding immediate construction of a new temple in place of the one
that was demolished. "Consequently, traffic on the Kaladhungi-Haldwani
road remained blocked for hours," said the SSP, adding that rioters
stopped the dharna after talks with officials, during which they agreed
to submit their demands to the SDM. The SSP clarified that the temple
had existed within that estate before the estate owner demolished it
along with the factory on Wednesday night.

However, clarifying
that no one was injured in the lathicharge, the SSP said so far four
men have been arrested on charges of carrying out the demolition of the
temple. "The factory owner and one more person are still absconding,"
the SSP said.

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