NEW DELHI: While most mosques in a business hub on the outskirts of India’s capital remained shut for Friday prayers, authorities in Haryana state have begun razing what they term ‘illegal’ houses allegedly used in a Hindu rally attack.

Police were deployed in large numbers outside several mosques in Gurugram, a satellite city of New Delhi.

Tensions have been high in the area since July 31 after a Hindu extremist, Monu Manesar, who is wanted by police for his alleged involvement in the lynching of two Muslim cattle traders in Haryana, announced his plan to attend the procession in the predominantly Muslim area of Nuh. Manesar frequently shares videos celebrating attacks on Muslims. On Monday, mobs reportedly hurled stones at the Hindu procession in Nuh. An armed mob then attacked a mosque in Gurugram early on Tuesday, killing a cleric, while several shops and small restaurants were vandalised or torched by mobs chanting Hindu slogans.

At least five main mosques were shut, with their entries heavily barricaded by police, as people were not allowed to assemble for Friday prayers. Officers claimed there was no order from authorities to shut mosques and that local Muslim leaders had appealed to people to pray at home in the wake of violence.

Around 500,000 Muslims live in Gurugram, but municipal authorities have blocked the construction of new mosques.

Police spokesperson Krishan Kumar said the clashes drew attention to the houses, which he said were illegally built. Although officials said there was no data on the number of structures demolished, local media reported that over 200 houses were razed.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2023