Protests Erupt in Mandi Over Illegal Mosque Construction; Police Use Water Cannons to Disperse Crowds

Protests Erupt in Mandi Over Illegal Mosque Construction; Police Use Water Cannons to Disperse Crowds

In a fresh communal flare-up in Himachal Pradesh, hundreds of protesters gathered in Mandi town on Friday, demanding the demolition of an allegedly illegal construction at a mosque on Jail Road. The protestors, mainly from Hindu groups, called for the immediate removal of the unauthorized portion of the mosque, which they claimed encroached on government land. The situation escalated when demonstrators attempted to march towards the mosque, prompting police to use water cannons to disperse the crowd. Prohibitory orders under Section 144, barring the gathering of five or more people, were imposed to prevent further escalation.

The protest followed a similar incident in Shimla earlier this week, where violent demonstrations broke out over an illegal construction at a mosque in the Sanjauli area. During the Shimla protest, clashes between Hindu groups and security forces resulted in injuries, stone-pelting, and police using water cannons and batons to control the situation. At least 10 people, including police personnel and women, were injured in the Shimla protests, which kept the city on edge for several days.

In Mandi, tensions rose as Hindu groups held a protest march in the town’s market area, raising slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and sitting on a dharna at Seri Manch. Despite heavy police deployment and heightened security, protesters made multiple attempts to proceed towards the mosque. Police responded by using water cannons to disperse the crowd and maintain order.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner H H Rana had earlier directed the mosque committee to demolish the unauthorized structure, leading to a portion of the wall being voluntarily demolished by members of the Muslim community on Thursday. However, the protest on Friday continued, with Hindu groups insisting on the complete removal of the illegal construction.

The communal tensions in Mandi come on the heels of the unrest in Shimla, where protests led by Hindu outfits demanded the demolition of an illegal structure at the Sanjauli mosque. Authorities remain on high alert in both cities, with efforts underway to prevent further outbreaks of violence.