Protests Erupt in Shimla’s Sanjauli Over Mosque Construction; Police Use Lathicharge to Disperse Crowds

Protests Erupt in Shimla’s Sanjauli Over Mosque Construction; Police Use Lathicharge to Disperse Crowds

Shimla: Despite prohibitory orders restricting gatherings of more than five people, thousands of protesters assembled in Sanjauli, Shimla, on Wednesday demanding the demolition of a mosque under controversy for alleged illegal construction. The protests, led by two Hindu organizations, escalated as police resorted to lathicharge and water cannons to control the crowd. At least two people were injured during the clash, and the mosque was cordoned off by authorities.

Sources from the district police intelligence unit revealed that people from other districts of Himachal Pradesh joined the protest, defying attempts by Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi to defer the demonstration through negotiations with representatives of the protesting groups.

The dispute stems from allegations of illegal additional floors being built on the mosque, a matter currently under judicial consideration. A court hearing is set for October 5. Local residents claim the land belongs to the revenue department, accusing the waqf board of encroachment. The waqf board, however, denies knowledge of the unauthorized floors, asserting that the mosque is located on its land.

On Tuesday, Shimla (Urban) MLA Harish Janartha raised the issue in the Assembly, urging Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to intervene. He emphasized that the protest was sparked by public outrage over the mosque’s expansion, with no involvement from political leaders. Janartha also called for a strict vendor policy to regulate the influx of people from other states.

In response, CM Sukhu announced the formation of a subcommittee to address the street vendor issue and to formulate a policy governing vending zones across the state. “The matter of the religious structure in Sanjauli is sensitive. The Government will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands,” Sukhu said, assuring that action would be taken after reviewing the previous administration’s policy on the matter.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur echoed concerns over the vendor policy, recalling the registration process initiated during the BJP’s tenure to monitor vendors from outside the state. Thakur also pointed out past statements by Congress leaders, which he claimed could have contributed to rising tensions.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, reinforced the need for strict measures to prevent any law and order issues, while Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh emphasized that the situation had been exacerbated by anti-social elements on social media, further fueling communal tensions.

Authorities remain vigilant as another protest has been called, with efforts underway to prevent further escalation. The matter will be discussed in court next month.