The crowd became uncontrollable and resorted to violence, said a police official
Team Clarion
SHIMLA — Police resorted to mild lathi-charge and used water cannons to disperse a violent crowd as thousands of protesters, largely locals, demanded the demolition of the five-storey mosque in the densely populated Sanjauli area of this Himachal Pradesh capital city.
The police action came as the protesters, claiming that the mosque was illegally raised and occupied by immigrants, tried to remove the barricading at the Dhalli tunnel and began moving towards the mosque. During the chaos, a security officer was reportedly injured.
“We tried our best to contain the situation peacefully, but the crowd became uncontrollable and resorted to violence,” said a police official at the scene.
In response, the Shimla administration implemented strict security measures across the city, deploying over 1,000 police officers, including a Quick Response Team, in the Sanjauli area. The administration also enforced Section 163 of the Indian Civil Protection Act, 2023, prohibiting gatherings of more than five people and carrying weapons without prior permission.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said people have the right to protest peacefully but there should be no damage to anyone from any community. He appealed to the people not to give it a political colour and to maintain law and order.
The protest stems from the demands of Hindu organisations for the demolition of the five-storey mosque in the densely populated Sanjauli area. They claim that the Waqf Board has illegally occupied the land and constructed the mosque. Protesters have also raised concerns about the Muslim population in the area, alleging that some residents may be illegal immigrants from Rohingya or Bangladesh.
The Shimla Municipal Corporation’s Commissioner’s Court is currently handling the case related to the alleged illegal construction of the mosque. The next hearing is scheduled for 5 October.
Rahul Sharma, representing the civic body, stated, “This is a clear case of illegal construction. We have included the Waqf Board as a party, and they have submitted their response. However, they have yet to provide the necessary documents to substantiate their claim.”
The Waqf Board, in its defence, maintains that the land on which the mosque stands is its property and that the construction was carried out following the rules. — With inputs from IANS
