NEW DELHI: The death toll from violence linked to the demolition of “illegal structures” in a city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has risen to five despite strict restrictions for the third straight day, officials said on Saturday.
Authorities imposed a curfew and shut down the internet in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani in the state’s Nainital district after a violent protest erupted as officials led a drive to demolish a madrasa, or Muslim school, and an adjacent Muslim prayer hall, which officials said were structures that were not ” recorded in government records”.
A.P Anshuman, the state’s top police officer said Saturday’s death toll from Thursday’s violence rose to five and three people were seriously injured.
“The situation in Haldwani is normal and the curfew has been lifted. However, the curfew continues in Banbhoolpura,” he said, adding that five people have been arrested and further investigations are underway.
Police said no new incident of violence was reported.
Dozens of people, including police and protesters, were injured in violent clashes that broke out after authorities arrived in the area to carry out the demolition.
Nainital chief executive Vandana Singh told reporters that the structures were not registered as any religious structures, while residents claimed that the madrasa and prayer house or mosque had existed for years.
Last month, authorities in the Indian capital demolished a mosque believed to have been built 600 years ago. The mosque claimed that no notice was served before its destruction.
Amnesty International earlier this month urged Indian authorities to immediately halt “illegal” demolitions of Muslim properties in the country.
