At least 4 individuals have died in violence in a northern Indian state after authorities demolished a mosque, alleging it was constructed illegally.

Violence broke out in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani city throughout what police say was an “anti-encroachment drive”.

Authorities stated the drive was launched to clear unlawful constructions, together with the mosque and an adjoining madrassa (non secular faculty).

But Muslims who prayed on the mosque say they’ve been unfairly focused.

Hundreds of protesters and police personnel have been injured within the clashes which broke out on Thursday night.

Videos confirmed protesters setting fireplace to autos and pelting stones and the police firing tear gasoline at them.

A curfew has been imposed and the state has issued “shoot at sight” orders to carry the state of affairs below management.

The incident passed off in Banbhoolpura space of Haldwani. The district had witnessed widespread protests in January final yr after greater than 50,000 individuals, largely Muslims, have been served eviction discover alleging they have been illegally dwelling on land owned by the Indian Railways. The demolitions have been later stayed by India’s prime courtroom.

Officials stated the most recent motion was based mostly on a excessive courtroom order asking authorities to clear unlawful settlements from the realm.

District Magistrate Vandana Singh stated the mosque and the madrassa have been demolished as a result of they have been illegally constructed on authorities land and weren’t registered as non secular constructions.

“The drive was not targeted towards any particular community. It began peacefully but a mob attacked officials soon after, leading to violence,” Ms Singh stated, including that authorities had given the mosque’s administration prior discover about its demolition.

Locals have denied this and stated the mosque was demolished earlier than the courtroom might give a ultimate resolution within the case.

“When the administration came [to demolish the structures] we asked them to stop until the next court hearing. But they did not listen. If they had waited for the final decision of the court, there would have been no resistance [from us],” Shakeel Ahmad, a neighborhood councillor, instructed the Indian Express newspaper.

Tensions over demolitions of mosques have risen previously few months.

Muslim teams say they really feel unfairly focused below Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist authorities and accuse it of spiritual polarisation forward of the final elections due in two months. The authorities denies the allegation.

On Friday, the state of affairs remained tense in Haldwani as authorities snapped web providers and ordered an entire shutdown.

Schools in Banbhoolpura will stay shut for the subsequent few days and 1000’s of police personnel have been deployed to observe the state of affairs.

The violence comes days after Uttarakhand handed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a brand new frequent legislation for all residents, no matter faith, intercourse, gender, and sexual orientation.

Muslims in Uttarakhand have rejected the UCC, calling it an interference with their Islamic practices.