In a northern Indian town, authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew and given police the order to shoot violators after clashes erupted over the construction of a Muslim seminary and a mosque, resulting in at least five deaths and more than 150 injuries, officials reported on Friday. The violence has prompted the shutdown of internet services and schools in Haldwani, Uttarakhand state.

According to Chief Radha Raturi, a government official, the situation became uncontrollable on Thursday as thousands of protesters attempted to block government officials and police who had arrived to demolish the seminary and mosque. The court had ordered the demolition, deeming the structures to have been built on government land without the necessary local authorization.

To disperse the protesters, who were hurling petrol bombs and stones and attacking a police station, the police resorted to firing live ammunition and tear gas, said police officer A.P. Anshuman. Nearly 4,000 police officers were deployed, and the curfew violators were warned that they would be shot.

State police chief Abhinav Kumar confirmed the deaths of five people during the violence but did not provide further details. However, he assured that there were no reports of fresh violence on Friday. Vandana Singh Chauhan, a government administrator, stated that more than 150 police officers were injured and multiple individuals were hospitalized.

It was not clarified by Anshuman whether the police's actions had resulted in the deaths of the protesters, and the religion of the victims was not identified. In the past, Muslim groups and rights organizations have accused India's Hindu-nationalist government of demolishing their homes and businesses. The government, on the other hand, has defended its actions, claiming that it is targeting only illegal structures. Critics argue that this is part of a larger pattern of "bulldozer justice" aimed at punishing activists from minority groups.

Recently, Amnesty International released a report condemning the unlawful demolition of Muslim properties by Indian authorities. The report states that between April and June 2022, at least 128 demolitions were documented in five states as a form of punishment following communal violence or protests. The rights group labeled this practice as "cruel and appalling," asserting that it is unjust, unlawful, and discriminatory.

Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have long accused him of turning a blind eye to, and even endorsing, hate speech against Muslims, who make up 14% of India's population of 1.4 billion people. However, Modi's Bhartiya Janata Party denies these accusations.

The situation remains tense as authorities work to restore peace and investigate the clashes, which have underscored the ongoing tensions surrounding religious conflicts and the issue of unauthorized construction in India.