SaThousands gathered in Sanjauli, a sub-town in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district, on Wednesday, despite prohibitory orders, to demand the demolition of a mosque. The protests led to a tense situation, with police resorting to lathi charges and water cannons to control the crowd. At least two people were injured in the police action as protesters attempted to move toward the mosque, which had been cordoned off.
The protest centers around allegations of illegal construction on the Sanjauli mosque, with claims that outsiders were being sheltered there. The legality of the additional construction on the mosque is currently under consideration by a court. However, this has not quelled public anger, with two Hindu groups leading the calls for the mosque’s demolition.
The situation escalated earlier this week when hundreds of people gathered in the main market of Sanjauli, demanding immediate action. The protests, driven by allegations of unauthorized construction and claims of outsiders being sheltered, have heightened communal tensions in the area.
Efforts to Defuse the Situation
On Tuesday, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured the Assembly that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands, The Indian Express reported. Despite efforts by Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi to prevent the protest, the situation escalated, with large crowds joining the demonstration from other districts.
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Shimla MLA Harish Janartha raised the issue in the state Assembly, urging the Chief Minister to intervene. The matter, Janartha said, was turning into a larger issue due to misinformation being spread on social media, which has worsened the situation.
Political and Legal Responses
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, who has previously called for the Sanjauli mosque’s demolition, emphasized that some elements were giving the issue a communal and political color. He urged the government to establish strict vendor policies to control the influx of people from other states, a demand echoed by opposition members.
The state waqf board has acknowledged that the mosque is located on its land but has distanced itself from the additional floors constructed. Local residents argue that the land belongs to the revenue department and accuse the waqf board of encroachment.
Chief Minister Sukhu has committed to forming a subcommittee to address the issue and introduce a policy for vending zones and street vendors across the state. Intelligence and security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely, with efforts underway to prevent further escalation.
The ongoing tensions highlight a complex intersection of religious, social, and legal issues, with both local and state authorities under pressure to resolve the matter peacefully while addressing the concerns of all stakeholders.
