Shimla Mosque Row: Massive Protest Erupts; Police Use Force To Disperse Crowd

Tens of thousands of local protesters gathered in Shimla on Wednesday, demanding the demolition of a five-storey mosque in the Sanjauli area, citing illegal construction.

Police deployed mild lathi-charges and water cannons to disperse the crowd as they attempted to remove barricades at the Dhalli tunnel. The protesters, waving the Tricolour and chanting slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Hindu Ekta Zindabad,’ staged a sit-in that blocked the road leading to Sanjauli, a suburb of Shimla.

This demonstration is likely one of the largest in Shimla in recent years. A protester told a news agency, “Our only demand is the demolition of the unauthorised disputed structure and to protect the demography of the state.”

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Earlier, the police had prepared a large presence to prevent violence due to the protest call from Hindu groups. The local administration imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita of 2023, which restricts assembly of more than five people and the carrying of weapons.

Officials deployed over 1,000 police personnel and the Quick Response Team in Sanjauli, and conducted a flag march as a precaution. Administration barricaded all the city entry points to prevent miscreants to enter.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged peaceful protests and appealed not to politicize the issue or harm any community. Hindu groups have called for verification of the local Muslims’ backgrounds, suspecting some might be Rohingyas or Bangladeshis.

Additionally, the Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court reviewed the mosque’s illegal portions on Saturday and scheduled the next hearing for October 5. The Waqf Board, which oversees the mosque, claims the construction complies with regulations but failed to provide the necessary documentation.