Mosque row: Sangharsh samiti calls for protest on Friday

Demanding the immediate sealing of the Sanjauli mosque, which has been declared illegal by a court here, the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti on Wednesday called for a protest in the area, located in the suburbs of Shimla town, on November 21.

The members of the Samiti have been sitting on a hunger strike near the Sanjauli Police Chowki since Tuesday, demanding the withdrawal of the FIR against its members, who had tried to stop Muslims from praying at the mosque last Friday, and the disconnection of the electricity and water supply to the mosque.

"The group convened a meeting to chalk out future strategy on Wednesday evening. It was decided that a massive protest would be held on Friday to press our demands," Samiti's co-convenor Vijay Sharma told the PTI.

The Samiti members also cautioned that the members of the minority community would not be allowed to offer prayers (namaz) in the Sanjauli mosque on Friday.

Members of the Samiti had last Friday prevented some Muslims from offering prayers at the mosque, and as the dispute escalated, some people returned without offering prayers.

Following this, the Sanjauli police had registered a case against six persons for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments.

However, the members of the Samiti contended that the mosque has been declared illegal by the court and, therefore, prayers should not be offered in the "disputed and illegal structure".