Whats behind Shimlas Sanjauli mosque row as Hindu outfit demands FIR cancellation
A district court has declared the Sanjauli mosque illegal and ordered its demolition, saying extra floors were added without approval. Hindu groups allege illegal construction and disputed land ownership. Tensions have since escalated, with the Devboomi Sangharsh Samiti staging a hunger strike and demanding withdrawal of FIRs against those who stopped Friday prayers at the mosque. The group has warned it will not allow prayers this week.
New Delhi: The Devboomi Sangharsh Samiti has urged the administration to provide a written assurance regarding the cancellation of the FIRs filed against its members and the disconnection of electricity and water supply to the allegedly illegal mosque building in Sanjauli.
The Samiti has given the administration time until 1 pm on Friday, after which its members — along with those gathering for the protest — will decide the next course of action.
According to the Samiti members, the local SDM and police officials are expected to arrive shortly for talks, after which a decision on future steps will be taken based on the administration’s proposal.
At present, the protest site is not very crowded, with only a handful of people present along with those already on a hunger strike.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Devboomi Sangharsh Samiti had announced a protest on November 21, demanding the immediate sealing of the Sanjauli mosque — which a local court has declared illegal.
Samiti members have been on a hunger strike near the Sanjauli Police Chowki since Tuesday, demanding that the FIR against those who attempted to stop Friday prayers at the mosque be withdrawn, and that electricity and water supply to the mosque be snapped.
The Samiti members also warned that the members of the minority community would not be allowed to offer prayers in the Sanjauli mosque on Friday. Last Friday, Samiti members had prevented some Muslims from offering prayers at the mosque. The police registered a case against six persons for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments. However, the Samiti members contended that prayers can't be offered at the "illegal" mosque.
What is Sanjauli mosque row?
The mosque is situated in Shimla’s Sanjauli suburb. Over a passage of time, the structure grew allegedly beyond its original design. It initially consisted of a single floor, but extra floors were later added without the stipulated municipal approvals.
Hindu organisations and several local residents have said that construction of parts of the structure was carried out illegally. Either they flouted building plan approval or were built on land whose ownership is disputed. They have been calling for their demolition or regularisation.
Some claim that the land on which the mosque was built is not actually owned by the Waqf Board. A few other say that the construction breached sanctioned limits. It has also been reported that the building (or extra floors) were built without sanctioned maps or municipal nod for change of use/height.
The Commissioner’s court has issued an order for demolishing the top floors, which it termed as illegal. On October 30, the district court in Shimla upheld the municipal commissioner court’s order to demolish the entire structure of the Sanjauli mosque, dismissing petitions filed by the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board and the Sanjauli Mosque Committee.
Several local residents and Hindu activists have been staging protests demanding the sealing of the mosque, cutting off electricity and water connection to the building. They are also calling for cancellation of FIR against demonstrators.