A few Muslims in Uttarkashi town of Uttarakhand have approached the high court seeking protection for a mosque they fear may be attacked by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The petitioners claim the VHP is spreading false allegations about the mosque being built illegally and that Hindutva groups are planning to target the structure.

The VHP, however, has announced a mahapanchayat of Hindus on December 1, demanding the mosque’s removal. The organisation alleges the mosque was constructed on government land using forged documents.

Petitioners Ishtiyaq Ahmad, Anwar Beg, Nasir Khan and Nasir Shaikh submitted land records to the court on Friday to prove the mosque’s legitimacy.

Speaking to reporters, Ishtiyaq said: “We have all the necessary land documents, including the property registry papers. The mosque has existed for decades.

“The land and the mosque were mentioned in the Nagar Palika records in 1982 after a survey. It was also recorded with the Uttar Pradesh’s Waqf Board in 1986 and later listed in the properties of the Uttarakhand Waqf Board, Dehradun,” said Ishtiyaq.

On October 24, a protest against the mosque turned violent, prompting police to resort to a lathi-charge. Following the incident, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the area and announced a fresh survey of all “disputed properties”.

Anuj Walia, the convener of the Uttarakhand Vishwa Hindu Parisha, said: “The government must act against the illegal mosque in Uttarkashi. We believe unlawful activities are carried out in mosques across the state.”