At least five individuals have been killed and more than 150 injured during a protest triggered by the demolition of a mosque and a religious school in Haldwani town, located in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India.
This incident marks the latest in a series of demolitions targeting Muslim structures across the region.
Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew and ordered police to shoot violators after clashes, The Washington Post reported citing Uttarakhand state government official Chief Radha Raturi.
The violence Thursday also led authorities to shut down internet services and schools in Haldwani.
The situation was brought under control with nearly 4,000 police officers rushing to the area, said police officer A.P. Anshuman. He said police were ordered to shoot protesters violating the curfew.
Municipal authorities carried out the demolition on Thursday, citing lack of permission for the construction of the buildings.
Police said Muslims torched vehicles and threw stones at them in the protest that followed, prompting them to fire live ammunition and tear gas in response.
Vandana Singh, the district magistrate of Nainital district, where Haldwani is located, said at a news conference the demolition and its aftermath were “not communal and should not be seen as such”.
She said the protest was linked to a government drive to demolish a “property that is neither registered as religious site nor has it been given any such recognition”.
“Some call the structure a madrassa,” she added.
