Demolition of Sanjauli shrine sought

Hundreds of people, including locals, those associated with the BJP and various other organisations, gathered in Sanjauli area of the state’s capital and took out a procession in protest against the construction of an alleged unauthorised shrine belonging to a minority community. The protesters gave the state government an ultimatum demanding the demolition of the structure within two days.

Police and Quick Reaction Team (QRT) were deployed to control the situation.

Ankush Chauhan, one of the protesters, said when any local person constructed a building illegally, it was immediately demolished by the authorities, but here a four-storeyed shrine had been built illegally, with no action taken against it.

The protesters said the main reason behind the protest is that a few days ago in Malyana, several persons belonging to the minority community assaulted one of the locals who sustained injuries. This outraged the people who started to express concern over unidentified migrants who allegedly cause nuisance.

They also demanded an investigation in the increase in the numbers of people belonging to a particular religion in order to identify whether they belong to Rohingya community or are from Bangladesh.

Earlier, several videos and posts of various people were being uploaded on social media sites in which an appeal was made to people to gather at Sanjauli on September 5. Sensing possible communal tension, police and district administration prohibited any kind of procession in Sanjauli while allowing the protesters to stage their protest at Chaura Maidan.

People also gathered at Chaura Maidan near the Himachal Pradesh legislative Assembly and demanded the demolition of the structure.

Meanwhile, the case of unauthorised construction is pending in the Municipal Commissioner’s Court since 2010 and is scheduled for hearing on September 7.

The case is being contested by the Waqf Board.