Haldwani: Uttarakhand on high alert after four fatalities in disputes over demolition of mosque

At least four people died in fighting in a northern Indian state after officials tore down a mosque, saying it was built unlawfully.

Violence happened in Haldwani town in Uttarakhand during a police operation to remove illegal buildings.

Officials said they started a campaign to remove illegal buildings, including a mosque and a religious school.

Some Muslims who prayed at the mosque feel like they have been treated unfairly.

Many people got hurt in the fights between protesters and police on Thursday night.

Videos showed people breaking cars and throwing stones, and the police spraying tear gas at them.

A curfew is in place and the state has given orders to shoot anyone who poses a threat in order to control the situation.

The event happened in Banbhoolpura, Haldwani. Many people were upset last year when over 50,000 Muslims were told to leave land owned by the Indian Railways. They protested a lot in the district. India’s highest court stopped the demolitions.

Authorities have said that they are taking action to remove illegal settlements from the area, as ordered by the high court.

The government official, District Magistrate Vandana Singh, said that the mosque and the madrassa were destroyed because they were built on government land without permission and were not officially recognized as religious buildings.

The drive did not focus on any specific group of people. “It started calmly, but then a group of people attacked the officials, which caused a lot of fighting,” Ms. She also mentioned that the mosque was given a warning before it was torn down.

The people who live nearby say the mosque was destroyed before the court made a final decision about it.

“When the government arrived to tear down the buildings, we told them to wait until the next time we go to court. ” But they didn’t pay attention. “If they had waited for the court’s final decision, we wouldn’t have resisted,” said Shakeel Ahmad, a local council member, to the Indian Express newspaper.

Tensions about destroying mosques have increased recently.

Muslim groups are saying they feel singled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which is Hindu-leaning. They accuse the government of creating religious division before the upcoming general elections in two months. The government says it did not do that thing.

On Friday, things were still tense in Haldwani as the authorities turned off the internet and ordered everything to close.

The schools in Banbhoolpura are closed for a few days, and many police officers are watching the area.

The violence happened a few days after Uttarakhand made a new law that applies to everyone, no matter their religion, sex, gender, or who they like.

In India, different religions have their own rules for marriage, divorce, and inheritance.

Muslims in Uttarakhand have said no to UCC because they think it will disturb their Islamic customs.