The Haryana government on Thursday demolished shanties of more than 250 migrant workers in Tauru town of the violence-hit Nuh district for allegedly encroaching on government land, reported NDTV.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the police have accused the migrant workers of being involved in the violence in Haryana that broke out on Monday.

The violence started as a clash between Hindus and Muslims during the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra, a procession organised by the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, on Monday. The violence spread to neighbouring districts, with Gurugram in particular witnessing widespread arson and mob attacks.

Homes and shops of Muslim migrants have been burnt and they have have been threatened with violence unless they left. Six people, including a cleric and two home guards, have died so far. Since Monday, 176 people have been arrested, over 90 detained and 41 cases have been registered.

On Thursday, the demolition by bulldozers took place amid heavy security. Over 250 shanties were built in about one acre of land on Mohammadpur Road where migrants had been living for four years, according to NDTV.

Narender Birjaniya, the officer on Special Duty to Additional Director General of Police (Law) Mamta Singh, claimed that demolitions have been carried out as the structures were illegal, reported The Tribune. “You cannot have an illegal structure and use it to hamper law and order,” he said.

Meanwhile, in view of the tense situation, Friday prayers were not allowed in Gurugram mosques. Muslim religious leaders have appealed to people to pray in their homes.

Also read: Threatened and left homeless, Muslim migrant workers flee Haryana amid communal violence

Also read:

How communal violence swept Haryana’s Nuh and Gurugram: A timeline

Nuh Police chief transferred

The Haryana government on Friday transferred the police chief of Nuh, where communal clashes broke out on Monday, to the Bhiwani district, NDTV reported.

Varun Singla, who was on leave when the clashes broke out, has been replaced by Indian Police Service officer Narendra Bijarniya.

Bijarniya had taken over as the acting superintendent of police in the city in the absence of Singla when the violence started.

He had told NDTV that the violence was the result of rumours spread by troublemakers. “Mewat is known for its composite culture and brotherhood,” he had said. “This violence has been instigated by some people through social media.”