The issue of the mosque under construction in Sanjauli, a suburb of Himachal Pradesh’s capital Shimla, has become heated. Hindu organizations and local people protested fiercely in Sanjauli on Sunday. Congress councilor Narendra Thakur also joined the protest. Taking out a rally in large numbers in Sanjauli market, Hindu organizations reached outside the mosque and recited Hanuman Chalisa there. The protesters called the mosque illegal and demanded the administration to demolish it.
Locals alleged that a three-storey mosque in Sanjauli was built illegally without the permission of the administration. The protesters remained adamant on the demand to demolish the mosque under construction. Anticipating the possibility of escalation of tension, the police has increased security. When the matter escalated, Shimla Collector Anupam Kashyap and SP Sanjeev Gandhi also reached the spot and the protesters were pacified. The Collector and SP assured the protesters to take a proper decision in the entire matter. He said that all aspects related to the matter will be investigated so that there is complete harmony in the society. He said that the matter of mosque construction is pending in the Municipal Corporation Court.
The senior officer of the Municipal Corporation present on the spot also admitted that the mosque has been built on the land of the Waqf Board, but three floors of the building are being constructed illegally. The matter will be heard in the Municipal Corporation court on Saturday. The Collector and SP advised the protesters to maintain restraint and said that the matter is related to religious sentiments and in such a situation, an appropriate decision will be taken after a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, SP Sanjeev Gandhi said that the entire matter will be resolved as per the established procedures and a positive solution will be found to all their issues. He said that the entire matter will be resolved in a timely manner by meeting with the Municipal Corporation councilors. He said that migrants coming from other states to work in Shimla are registered and the police is fully alert about this. He said that strict action will be taken against the culprits of the attack on the Hindu youth in Malyana. He said that the responsibility of investigating this incident has been handed over to the police officer.
Report: UK Sharma
