Shimla Mosque Row: Police Lathi Charge Protestors At Sanjauli Market, Cop Injured During Clash — Updates

Police personnel had to resort to lathi charge and water cannons as protestors clashed with them while trying to breach the barricades erected in Sanjauli market area.

Shimla Mosque Row: Chaotic scenes ensued in Shimla on Wednesday as the the protesting locals clashed with the police during their protest march demanding the demolition of an alleged illegal portion of a mosque in Sanjauli area. A police personnel was injured in Sanjauli market area while trying to control the crowd during the demonstration. Amid the escalating tensions, police officials were also seen interacting with the protestors to pacify the situation.

Here's what has happened so far today in Sanjauli during protest over the 'illegal' mosque construction:

• Police personnel had to resort to lathi charge and water cannons in order to bring the situation under control. They were also trying to prevent the protestors from toppling the barricades erected by the security forces to stop them from reaching the mosque.

• After a police personnel was injured in the scuffle and the situation continued to grow tense, the police officials were seen interacting with some locals during the protest march to bring the situation under control and maintain peace.

• Hundreds of protestors had gathered at the Sabzi Mandi Dhalli and marched towards Sanjauli, raising slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Hindu Ekta Zindabad', defying prohibitory orders, and ignoring administration's warnings to lodge their protest.
  
  


• Earlier today, protestors also broke barricades erected near the Dhalli tunnel east portal while trying to remove the barricading.

• Commenting on the ongoing row over the alleged illegal construction of a mosque in Sanjauli, Minister Vikramaditya Singh said: "This matter has been pending for a long period. As far as the construction of illegal buildings is concerned, the government has taken cognizance of it. I have also strongly said in the assembly that as soon as the decision comes on this within the ambit of law action will be taken, it will be demolished if it is found to be illegal. But we have to move ahead with the process of law. We want an atmosphere of peace should prevail in Himachal Pradesh…"
  
  
  
  


• The protestors, who had gathered on the call of some Hindu groups, also broke another barricade near the mosque in Sanjauli, as a result of which the police resorted to lathi-charge and used water cannons to disperse them.
  
  


• Some protestors were also detained by the police, including Hindu Jagran Manch secretary Kamal Gautam. Police also erected the barricade near the mosque again but the protesters did not leave the spot and continued raising slogans against the administration, news agency PTI reported.
  
  


• Protesters also alleged that they were denied permission to hold peaceful protests were being arrested. Some of also suffered injuries in the police action, protestors alleged.
  
  


• As the tensions heightened, Sanjauli and the adjoining areas were converted into a fortress with increased police deployment. In view of Wednesday's call for protest, the Shimla district administration had issued prohibitory orders under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita section 163, barring the assembly of five or more people. Carrying lethal weapons and arms was also prohibited.
  
  


• A 'bandh' call was sounded by Hindu outfits demanding demolition of the alleged illegal mosque construction. Following this, the issue of the alleged illegal construction was raised in the Vidhan Sabha with Shimla (Urban) MLA Harish Janartha who sought Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's intervention into the matter.
  
  


•  Earlier today, Sukhu had asked people to hold the protests peacefully without damaging public property. "Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the government. People have the right to protest peacefully but there should be no damage to anyone from any community," he said.
  
  Remarking on the mosque issue and assuring prompt action, he said: "As far as the mosque is concerned, the case of unauthorised or illegal construction of some floors is in the court of the municipal corporation and the law would take its course and requests would be made for early decision on the issue."