A screengrab from a video of the clashes between police and Muslims in the state of Uttarakhand in India over Mosque clashes. — X/@DrJain21
Communal tensions intensified in India after five people died and hundreds were injured in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand due to the demolition of a mosque and adjoining madrasa by the police as “encroachment”, BBC reported.
However, Muslims living in the area termed the demolition “illegal” and denied the claims of encroachment, saying that if the police had waited for the court’s order, none of the clashes would have taken place. They said that they had been unfairly treated.
The town of Haldwani is on high alert, and the state has given “shoot at sight” orders and imposed a curfew to get things under control.
Violence broke out in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani during what police say was an anti-encroachment drive” launched to remove illegal buildings.
The clashes that began on Thursday night resulted in hundreds of injuries for both police officers and demonstrators.
Videos circulating online show demonstrators throwing stones and setting cars on fire while the police attacked them with tear gas.
The madrassa and the mosque were razed, according to District Magistrate Vandana Singh, since they were not recognised as religious buildings and were constructed unlawfully on government property.
“The drive was not targeted at any particular community. It began peacefully, but a mob attacked officials soon after, leading to violence,” Singh said, adding that authorities had given the mosque’s administration prior notice about its demolition.
Locals have denied this and said the mosque was demolished before the court could give a final decision in the case.
Tensions over the demolition of mosques have risen in the past few months.
Ahead of the general elections that are scheduled in two months, Muslims claim that they are being unfairly singled out by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist administration and accuse it of inciting religious conflict.
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