Sanjauli mosque row: Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti calls off protest after administration accepts demands

The Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, along with other Hindu groups, called off their protest today after their demands were reportedly met. These included sealing the controversial Sanjauli mosque, quashing the FIR against their members, and disconnecting the mosque’s electricity and drinking-water supply.

Members of the Samiti, who had been on a hunger strike outside the Sanjauli Police Station for several days, had previously called for a statewide protest. The demonstration was in response to an FIR lodged against them for stopping several Muslims on their way to the mosque, which was declared illegal by the court.

In response, security arrangements were also beefed up in Sanjauli.

Following the incident, hundreds of members of various Hindu outfits gathered in Sanjauli today to protest, warning that they would not allow people to offer prayers at the mosque. However, after talks with the administration about their demands, they decided to call off the protest. Meanwhile, tensions flared briefly when the protesters demanded the immediate disconnection of water and electricity to the mosque. They blocked the road and raised slogans, causing inconvenience to people for a short while, but later agreed to call it off.

Kamal Gautam, president of the Hindu Raksha Manch, who also participated in the protest said that prayers are being offered by the people despite the structure being declared illegal by the Commissioner’s Court and the District Court, which is unacceptable. He said that no action has been initiated to demolish the structure so far while the people who are raising their voices against the mosques are being harassed through FIR, which also raises questions.

He further said that while the protest has been called off, a meeting between an eight-member committee of the Samiti is scheduled to meet the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Shimla, on November 29 to complete certain legal formalities.

Madan Thakur, co-convener of Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, clarified that while the hunger strike till death has been called off, its members will continue with a relay hunger strike until action is not taken to fulfill their demands.

Meanwhile, the Sanjauli Mosque Committee’s office-bearers have stated that they are preparing to challenge the decision to demolish the mosque in the high court.