In Shimla, the Himachal Pradesh capital, police deployed in substantial numbers on Wednesday in response to a planned protest by Hindu groups over a mosque under construction in the densely populated Sanjauli area.
The police presence aims to prevent potential unrest related to the contentious five-storey building.
To manage the situation, local authorities have enforced Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita of 2023, which restricts gatherings of more than five people without authorization and prohibits the carrying of weapons.
Authorities have stationed over 1,000 police officers, including Quick Response Team members, in the city of Sanjauli.
Additionally, authorities have barricaded all city entry points to deter troublemakers.
As a precautionary measure, the administration has banned all protests and processions in Sanjauli and surrounding areas until noon.
The Hindu organizations involved are calling for the demolition of what they describe as unauthorized extensions of the mosque and are also advocating for the registration of outsiders entering the state.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed the situation by emphasizing the right to peaceful protest while urging that no harm should come to individuals of any community.
He requested that the situation remain free of political overtones and that authorities maintain public order.
Last week, Hindu groups in Shimla staged a significant protest, primarily led by BJP activists, demanding the demolition of the mosque.
They alleged that the Waqf Board had illegally occupied land to construct the mosque and raised concerns about the origins of local Muslims, suspecting some to be Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.
On Saturday, the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court reviewed the matter regarding the alleged illegal construction of the mosque.
The court will hold the next hearing on 5 October.
Rahul Sharma, representing the civic body, stated that the case involves illegal construction and that the Waqf Board had been asked to respond.
The Waqf Board, in its reply, claimed ownership of the land and stated that the construction complied with regulations, but did not provide the necessary documents to validate the extended structure.
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