Shimla Mosque: Why Are The Locals Protesting In Sanjauli And How Did The Controversy Start?

The mosque, located in Sanjauli, a sub-division of Shimla district, came into the spotlight after a brawl erupted last month involving a group of men said to be its 'occupants'.

People raise slogans during a protest against the alleged illegal construction of a mosque in Shimla.

Source : PTI

A mosque in Shimla is witnessing intense protests by the locals, political leaders and right-wing groups, who are demanding the demolition of the structure, which they claim is 'illegal'. 

The mosque, located in Sanjauli, a sub-division of Shimla district, came into the spotlight after a brawl erupted last month involving a group of men said to be its 'occupants'.

Far rights groups in the area have been staging protests at Chaura Maidan in the vicinity of the Vidhan Sabha, demanding the demolition of the mosque. Hindu Jagran Manch’s Himachal unit president Kamal Gautam has claimed that the mosque was being used to give shelter to “outsiders”.

Meanwhile, a heavy force has been deployed on Monday and the police are keeping a watch on the situation. Shimla District Magistrate has imposed prohibitory order under section 163 BNS restricting the assembly of five or more persons in public places in the Sanjauli area from 7 am to 11.59 pm on Sept 11 in view of the law and order situation.

Why Did The Protest Start?

The protest against the Mosque started on August 30 after half a dozen people belonging to the minority community attacked a businessman and some other traders in Malyana area with rods and sticks injuring four of them. The businessman, Yashpal Singh, is reportedly from Malyana in Kasumpti assembly near Shimla.

A case was registered against Gulnawaz (32), Sarik (20), Saif Ali (23), Rohit (23), Rihan (17) and Samir (17) and Rihan. The accused hail from UP’s Muzaffarnagar, while one Rihan is from Dehradun.

Earlier this month, Yashpal, along with Congress councillors from Kasumpti assembly seat, BJP workers and Sanjauli locals gathered outside the mosque to protest against the ‘illegal’ structure and its occupants. 

They demanded the administration raid the mosque, arrest those named in the case and demolish the structure. Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap assured of action and sought a report from the civic body on the legality of the structure. 

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh said that the mosque is built on government land and the matter has been sub judice for the past 14 years.

All About the Mosque

Shahzad Imam, the maulvi of the five-storeyed mosque, has said the structure dates back to 1947 while the extended construction took place after 2007, according to a report in The Print. 

A case was registered against the Mosque in 2010 claiming that it is illegal. However, over the last 14 years, four new floors were added to the structure, while the matter was heard 44 times by the municipal corporation without any resolution, the report added.

The report further claimed that the extended structure came up during the past decade under successive governments.

Matter In Court

The Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner's court is hearing the matter pertaining to the allegations that the mosque is an illegal structure. 

The court heard the matter on Saturday and has set October 5 as the next day of the hearing. 

The Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board has submitted in the court that the land on which the mosque stands belongs to it and the extended construction was carried out according to the rules. However, it has failed to furnish the required documents to prove its claims.

The court has asked the Waqf Board and the mosque committee to explain how a single-storey mosque became a five-storey structure. 

Jagat Pal, an advocate who appeared on behalf of the locals, said that they were forced to join the issue as it had been lingering in the MC Commissioner’s court for the past 14 years and the Waqf Board was made a party only in 2023.