Uttarakhand, an Indian state, is on alert following the demolition of a mosque that left five people dead

The Indian state of Uttarakhand remained on high alert on Friday after officials destroyed a mosque the previous day on the grounds that it was built illegally, resulting in at least five fatalities from the ongoing unrest.

During what the police described as a “anti-encroachment drive” to demolish unlawful buildings, including the mosque and a joint madrasa, violence broke out in Haldwani town.

Muslims who went to the mosque to pray, however, feel they have been unfairly singled out.

Numerous police officers and protesters suffered injuries in the battles that started on Thursday night.

Online videos show protesters hurling stones and setting automobiles on fire while police hit them with tear gas.

The state has issued “shoot at sight” orders in addition to enforcing a curfew in an effort to bring things under control.

According to District Magistrate Vandana Singh, the mosque and the madrassa were demolished because they were built illegally on government land and were not recognized as places of worship.

“There was no specific community in mind for the drive. Violence resulted from a mob’s attack on officials shortly after it started peacefully, Singh said, adding that the administration of the mosque had been informed in advance about the mosque’s impending demolition by the authorities.

Locals contend that the mosque was destroyed before the court could render a definitive ruling in the matter, refuting the district administration’s allegation.

“We requested the administration to hold off on demolishing the buildings until the following court date. However, they paid no attention. We wouldn’t have opposed them if they had waited for the court’s final ruling,” local councilman Shakeel Ahmad told the Indian Express.

In recent months, there has been an increase in tension about the demolition of mosques.

Muslims accuse the Hindu nationalist government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of fostering religious violence and of unfairly singling them out ahead of the two-month-old parliamentary elections.