Shimla Sanjauli Mosque Row: Protesters Clash with Police, Break Barricades; 2 Cops Injured

Shimla: Himachal Police resorted to lathi-charge and water cannons to disperse angry protesters who marched towards the mosque demanding the demolition of an allegedly illegal structure in Shimla's Sanjauli area. Hundreds of protesters, raising slogans like "Jai Shri Ram" and "Hindu Ekta Zindabad," gathered at Sabzi Mandi Dhalli and marched towards Sanjauli, breaking through barricades near the Dhalli Tunnel before clashing with security forces.

Protestors removed the first layer of barricading and clashed with the security forces while entering the Dhalli Tunnel East portal during their protest march. As the protesters broke through a second barricade near the mosque, police used lathi-charges and water cannons to disperse them. The protests, organised by Hindu groups, were triggered by claims of illegal construction at the Sanjauli mosque. The heightened security measures included heavy police deployment and vehicle inspections at key locations, including the Dhalli Tunnel, to manage the situation and prevent further mishaps.

Amid escalating tensions over the unauthorized construction of a mosque in the Sanjauli area and a bandh call by Hindu outfits demanding the demolition of the disputed structure, Sanjauli and surrounding areas have been converted into a fortress with heavy police deployment.

Latest Updates on Shimla Protests Over Sanjauli Mosque

• At least two police personnel were injured in the scuffle and stone-pelting, while the protesters claimed some of them sustained injuries as well in the police action.
• Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi, who was at the spot beside Director General of Police (DGP) Atul Verma, said attempts were on to bring the situation under control. "We are trying to pacify the situation through dialogue but there is no leader and the mob is not ready to listen," Gandhi added.
• Police detained some protesters as well, including Hindu Jagran Manch secretary Kamal Gautam, and erected the barricade near the mosque again but the protesters refused to leave and continued raising slogans against the administration.
• The outbreak of the clash left students in Sanjauli, Dhalli and adjoining areas stranded in schools.
• Residents vented their anger at the administration for not ordering the schools to remain closed for the day despite being aware of the demonstration. They said several school managements are awaiting directions from the district administration to send the children back home.
• "Regarding the illegal construction, we have seen that Himachal Government Minister Anirudh Singh has said that the construction is unauthorised and should be taken down.... 'Aaj, Himachal Pradesh ke mukhya mantri ne Hindu samaj ke sath khilwad karte hue mahilaon aur Hindu samaj pe lathi-charged kiya'... The Hindu community was on its way to Sanjauli for a peaceful protest but the police of the Sukhu government used lathi-charge upon and dispersed us..," said a protestor.
• Police use water cannons against the protestors to disperse them while they are on their way to the alleged illegal construction of a mosque in the Sanjauli area.

• Vikramaditya Singh said, "As far as the construction of that illegal structure is concerned, the matter is sub-judice, Govt will take a decision after hearing. We have clearly said that if it is found to be illegal, action will definitely be taken and it will be demolished. But that is a step that will be taken once the order of the Municipal Commissioner comes, it will not be right to take action before that."
• Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that the protests should not affect the peace in he area and that the state government would take action if the mosque is illegal. He said, "The situation is very clear. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully and Govt too has said this but there should not arise a situation that would affect the peaceful situation there. So Police have taken preventive measures. Sec 163 has been imposed there and the area has to be turned into a Police camp so that no situation arises which would raise questions on the law and order in the state."
• Police lathi-charged protesters attempting to reach the site of the alleged illegal mosque construction in Sanjauli.
• The situation in Shimla turned chaotic as locals clashed with police during the protests.
• Raising slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" and "Hindu Ekta Zindabad", hundreds of protestors gathered at the Sabzi Mandi Dhalli and marched towards Sanjauli to lodge their protest and broke the barricades erected near the Dhalli tunnel.
• Photos from the scene show protesters holding tricolors and chanting slogans like "Himachal Ne Thana Hai, Devbhoomi Ko Bachana Hai" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai."
• Protesters breached and broke through barricades outside Shimla's Dhalli Tunnel.
• Prohibitory orders have been issued in the Sanjauli area from 7:00 AM to 11:59 PM today. These orders, under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, prohibit gatherings of more than five people without permission, the carrying of weapons, and public rallies or demonstrations that disrupt traffic or public peace.
• Several citizens and members of Hindu organisations, particularly from the Civil Society Devbhoomi Sangathan, joined the protests, displaying the tricolour in their hands and raising slogans as they moved towards Sanjauli.
• Naresh Chauhan, Media Advisor to Himachal Pradesh CM, said: "Everyone understands how some people are trying to make it an issue for their gain. The issue is of an unauthorised construction, the law is taking its course and the matter is in the commissioner court. Connecting the issue with a mosque controversy is not right... The locals have not come out. Some BJP workers are raising slogans 2 km away from Sanjauli. They tried to gather public support through social media but that has not happened... People understand the real issue," Chauhan said.
• Naresh Chauhan, Media Advisor to Himachal Pradesh CM, stated: The BJP aims to frame the issue as a Hindu-Muslim conflict, but it is actually a law and order matter. "All the people that have gathered, I know them personally. These 20-25 people are BJP workers and they have contested elections on BJP tickets... The BJP wants to make this a national issue but the reality is that this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. It is a law and order situation and the law will take its course... The CM has said that any action that needs to be taken related to any unauthorised construction, will be taken... Some people who see a political opportunity in this will not get support... The government has said that they will keep a track record of the people coming from outside, to make sure that there are no bad elements," Chauhan said.
• Jairam Thakur, Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly, criticised Sukhu government: Thakur accused the Himachal government of delaying action against the alleged illegal construction, leading to public agitation." Himachal Pradesh is a peaceful state. There have hardly been any community conflicts here. But, now the situation that has emerged, the government should have taken active measures against it, and people are agitated because of the delay. The sentiments of the Hindus and the local people must be respected... Imposing BNSS 163 is an attempt to suppress the voice of the people... There should be peaceful protests within the limits of the law. I urge the government that if it is an unauthorised construction, then this problem should be solved soon," Thakur said.

Earlier on Saturday (September 7), the Waqf Board gave a submission to a Shimla court that it owns the contentious mosque in Sanjauli Colony and the dispute was only about its further development. The Shimla Municipal Corporation Commissioner's court heard both parties in the the mosque case and fixed the next hearing for October 5.

A few Hindu right bodies had on Thursday (September 5) staged a massive protest at Chaura Maidan here in the vicinity of the Vidhan Sabha, demanding demolition of the mosque in Sanjauli. Hindu Jagran Manch's Himachal unit president Kamal Gautam had earlier alleged that the mosque was being used to give shelter to "outsiders".

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had said all state residents have the same rights and he has respect for all religions. "Peaceful protests are permitted but nobody will be allowed to take law into his hands," he had said.