Shimla erupts over mosque construction, many injured
Several protesters and police personnel were injured during a lathi-charge in Sanjauli area here during protests against the illegal construction of a mosque here.
The police used mild lathi-charge and water cannons to disperse the protesters and to prevent them from heading towards the illegal structure.
Despite the district administration imposing Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, which prohibits gathering of five or more persons, hundreds of protesters, including those associated with several Hindu outfits, gathered at Dhalli tunnel in the morning. The protesters, who raised slogans against the state government as well as the police, tried to break the barricades at Dhalli tunnel.
Earlier, the police detained a protester who was identified as Kamal Gautam, a leader of Hindu Jagaran Manch, at Sanjauli Chowk as he tried to hold a protest there.
Some protesters indulged in stone pelting at Sanjauli market, injuring police personnel as well as some people in the crowd.
The police resorted to lathi-charge in which some people sustained injuries. They were immediately rushed to hospital by the police. It was after a lot of effort that the police managed to disperse the crowd. DGP Atul Verma also reached the spot to take stock of the situation.
As the police tried to restore order, another protest broke out at Sanjauli Chowk after several people associated with Hindu outfits, along with local residents, started to gather at the site.
The protesters raised slogans against the state government as well as the police, demanding demolition of the mosque. The police again resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. During this, a policewoman suffered injuries on her foot.
In the evening, the Mall Business Association, Shimla, kept shops closed for an hour to express solidarity with the people of Sanjauli.
The Vyapar Mandal of Shimla has called for ‘Shimla bandh’ and has decided to keep shops in Shimla closed from 10 am to 1 pm tomorrow in protest against the lathi-charge. The protests were a result of a call made on social media by several persons associated with Hindu outfits after the Municipal Commissioner’s court scheduled the next hearing of the case for October 5.
During the previous hearing on September 5, the Commissioner directed the official concerned to file a fresh status report of the mosque on October 5. This infuriated the people associated with Hindu outfits as well as the local residents who appealed to the people to come to Sanjauli for a protest.
Displeased with the lathi-charge, a protester said that they were on their way to hold a peaceful protest, but the state government’s police resorted to lathi-charge, which is shameful. Shimla SP Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi — who was present at the site — said that the police did not intend to hurt anyone. He said that lathi-charge was a reaction to the protesters who were trying to break the barricades.
Meanwhile, the district administration said permission had not been sought by anyone to hold a protest in Sanjauli. So nobody was allowed to assembly in the area. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, the DC had imposed Section 163 of BNSS from 7 am till 11.59 pm today in Sanjauli and its adjoining area to prevent the assembly of people.
