Six Muslim women, recently released on bail after being imprisoned for seven months in connection with the February 2024 Haldwani violence, have accused prison authorities of subjecting them to forced labour and degrading conditions.
The women allege they were made to clean toilets, mop floors, and perform other unpaid manual tasks that violated their constitutional rights under Article 23, which prohibits forced labour
The violence in Haldwani erupted on February 8, 2024, following the demolition of a mosque and madrasa in Banbhulpura.
The government claimed the structures were illegally built, but the demolition triggered widespread protests, leading to seven deaths and over 150 injuries.
These women were arrested during the unrest, facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which many claim are baseless.
One of the detainees, Reshma, who suffers from diabetes and kidney infections, described her time in prison as traumatic.
“Despite my health issues, I was forced to clean toilets. When I requested to be exempted, I was beaten,” she said. Another woman, Salma, recounted her detention after being identified in a photograph from the protests.
“The uncertainty of being detained without trial was the hardest part. It felt like complete abandonment,” she said.
The women highlighted severe food shortages and poor living conditions in Haldwani Jail. During Ramadan, they struggled to save food for iftar and sehri, and the meals provided were described as substandard. They also faced threats from prison staff and constant fear.
Shahnaz, a widow, described the conditions as inhumane, saying, “We were treated less than human.”
The socio-economic struggles of the detainees compounded their suffering. Many come from low-income families, and their arrests left them without support. Soni, a mother of three, was separated from her nine-month-old daughter.
“Not being able to breastfeed her broke my heart,” she said tearfully.
The women expressed gratitude to the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind for their legal assistance, crediting the organization with securing their release.
Advocate Mohammad Yusuf, the organization’s vice president in Uttarakhand, criticized the government’s demolition of Muslim structures on disputed Nazul land, arguing that the land was historically granted to Muslims by the British in 1937.
The incident has sparked broader concerns over religious intolerance and the treatment of Muslims in India, particularly the destruction of religious sites.
Despite their ordeal, the women remain resolute in seeking justice. “We were treated like criminals, but we are innocent,” Salma said. “We just want justice.”