NEW DELHI: Protests over the Sanjauli mosque controversy continued on Saturday in Shimla, with tensions rising as Hindu groups demanded action against the alleged illegal construction. In Mandi, hundreds gathered on Jail Road, protesting against a mosque that partially stands on Public Works Department (PWD) land.
The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters and imposed prohibitory orders to prevent gatherings of five or more people. Protestors, chanting Hanuman Chalisa, attempted to breach barricades near the mosque.
The protests in Mandi followed similar unrest in Shimla’s Sanjauli area, where violent demonstrations erupted over another mosque’s illegal construction. In both cases, Hindu organisations have been calling for the demolition of unauthorised structures.
The situation in Mandi escalated after the local court ordered the demolition of the illegal portion of the mosque within 30 days, a decision announced just hours before the protests.
According to authorities, members of the mosque committee had already started demolishing the disputed structure, located on PWD land. Iqbal Ali, a representative of the mosque committee, stated that the community had voluntarily removed the illegal section. However, despite these efforts, protests still broke out, with more than 700 police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.
As tensions persist, authorities are working to calm the situation, with both the Mandi and Sanjauli mosque controversies now under the spotlight. Political figures like BJP spokesperson Chetan Bragta have criticized the government’s response, while the local Muslim community has expressed a willingness to follow legal procedures. Several FIRs have been lodged in relation to the protests, and police injuries were reported during earlier confrontations in Shimla.