Shimla Sanjauli Masjid Case: Protest turns violent after lathi-charge in Sanjauli, policeman injured in clash, tension in the area

The controversy over the Sanjauli mosque in Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla is heating up. The Hindu community claims that the construction has been done illegally and it should be demolished. Thousands of people took to the streets on Wednesday with this demand. The police installed barricades to prevent people from reaching the mosque, which were broken by the people. The police lathi-charged the crowd. This led to a clash between the enraged people and the policemen. One policeman was injured in this.

Angry protesters are also protesting against the police due to the lathi-charge. The police have chased away the protesters from Sanjauli market. Along with this, preparations are being made to remove the protesters from Sanjauli Chowk. There is continuous sloganeering here. The protesters gathered in Sabzi Mandi Dhalli raising slogans of Jai Shri Ram and Hindu Ekta Zindabad.

People broke the barricades near the Dhalli tunnel

They started marching towards Sanjauli to register their protest. People broke the barricades installed near the Dhalli tunnel. The protesters who had gathered on the call of Hindu organizations also broke the second barricade near the mosque. After this, the police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse them. To disperse the protesters, the police also sprayed water on them.

Heavy police force deployed in the areas

Amid rising tensions over the mosque in the Sanjauli area, a heavy police force has been deployed in Sanjauli and surrounding areas. Shimla district administration has implemented Section 163. Shimla District Magistrate said that prohibitory orders have been imposed to maintain law and order in the area. Public rallies, processions without permission, sit-ins, and sloganeering in public places are prohibited. The order will be effective in the entire Sanjauli from 7 am on Wednesday to 11:59 pm.

The issue should not be given a political color.

Hindu organizations had called for a bandh demanding the demolition of illegal constructions and registration of outsiders in the state. Earlier, a massive protest was held at Chaura Maidan on Thursday. In this matter, CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has said that this issue should not be given a political color. It is the responsibility of the government to maintain law and order. There is a right to protest peacefully but no person of any community should be harmed.

As far as the mosque is concerned, the matter is in court.

He said that all communities are respected in the state. As far as the mosque is concerned, the matter is in the Municipal Court. The law will do its work. A decision on this issue will be requested soon. At the same time, the Superintendent of Police has appealed to the people to maintain peace.