Shimla Clashes: Protests Over Alleged Illegal Mosque Construction

Tension was reported in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, on Wednesday as a protest against the alleged illegal construction of a mosque escalated into clashes with the police.

It was observed that hundreds of protesters, including women, were seen chanting slogans against the mosque.

Shimla Protests Over Alleged Illegal Mosque Construction

A group of protesters attempted to overwhelm the police by tossing around barricades. In response, water cannons and mild force were employed by the police. The protest, organized by Hindu groups in the city, took place in the Dhalli area of Shimla, where objections were raised regarding the alleged unauthorized construction of a mosque in the Sanjauli locality, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Naresh Chauhan, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, stated that efforts were being made by the BJP to politicize the issue as a Hindu-Muslim conflict. He claimed that the majority of the protesters were BJP workers who had contested elections on BJP tickets.

Chauhan emphasized that the issue at hand was a matter of law and order and that the Chief Minister had assured that any necessary action concerning unauthorized construction would be undertaken. He criticized those attempting to exploit the situation for political gain and mentioned that the government would monitor any external elements to prevent any disturbances.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Jairam Thakur, criticized the state government for its delay in addressing the alleged illegal construction. Thakur pointed out that Himachal Pradesh has traditionally been a peaceful state with few community conflicts. He argued that the government's delay had led to public agitation and called for prompt action to address the issue, urging that peaceful protests within legal limits be allowed, as per media

Heavy police presence was reported at the Dhalli tunnel in Shimla. Prohibitory orders were imposed by the police in the Sanjauli locality on Tuesday, effective from 7:00 AM to 11:59 PM on Wednesday, due to concerns about potential breaches of public peace and tranquillity, according to District Magistrate Anupam Kashyap. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that while the right to peaceful protest is acknowledged, any damage during protests should be avoided.