After Shimla, Protests Erupt In Mandi Over Mosque On Encroached Land, Police Use Water Canons

The protesting locals forced their way towards the alleged illegal mosque, prompting police to use water cannons to bring the situation under control in Mandi.

Police use water cannons on agitators during a protest over alleged illegal construction at a mosque in Mandi.

Source : PTI

After the recent protests in Shimla against an alleged illegal mosque portion, a similar situation unfolded in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi on Friday as Hindu groups held a protest march demanding demolition of an unauthorised mosque portion. The protesting locals forced their way towards the structure, prompting police to use water cannons to bring the situation under control. 

On Wednesday too, police used water cannons ad batons to disperse protestors when they broke the barricades while trying to reach the vicinity of the mosque. Six police personnel and four protestors were injured. 

In Mandi, the protesters initially held a march in the Mandi market area and sat on a dharna at Seri manch, raising slogans of Jai Shri Ram. Later, they attempted to proceed towards the mosque but were stopped as police used water cannons to disperse them.

The management committee of Jail Road mosque in Mandi was served a notice by the municipal corporation on Friday to remove the portion constructed on the encroached land within 30 days. As per the notice, the mosque stands on 232 sq m of land whereas the approval was granted for just 45 sq m.

This came a day after members of the Muslim community on Thursday demolished an unauthorised portion of the mosque themselves.

The Muslim Welfare Committee had also submitted a memorandum to the Municipal Commissioner requesting him to seal the unauthorised portion of the Sanjauli mosque. They also offered to voluntarily demolish the portion.

Meanwhile, police have gathered call details records of those who instigated the protests, joined by hundreds, demanding demolition of an unauthorised portion of a mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla on Wednesday. 

CM Sukhu Appeals To Maintain Peace

Amid the escalating situation in the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appealed to the agitators to maintain peace and brotherhood. "I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and make no provocative statements. No one is allowed to take the law into their hands. We respect everyone. The land of Himachal respects all religions."

"Eight FIRs have been registered against more than 50 people involved in the protests in Shimla," police told news agency PTI.

Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said: "We have gathered records of call details of people who instigated Wednesday's protest at Sanjauli and more cases would be registered."

"There is CCTV footage, video evidence of people taking law in their hands and people carrying stones in their hands which were pelted on duty bound officers have been identified," he added. The Shimla SP also said that it was a pre-planned protest to disturb peace, PTI reported.