Shimla: Hindu organisations called for a bandh on Wednesday, demanding the demolition of unauthorised construction at the mosque Sanjauli locality of Shimla and registration of outsiders coming into the state.
Meanwhile, the district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. These orders prohibit the gathering of more than five people without permission and ban the carrying of lethal weapons such as lathis, swords, sticks, daggers and spears.
#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: Heavy police deployed at the Dhalli Tunnel East portal in view of the protests against the alleged construction issue of Sanjauli mosque pic.twitter.com/OvxJAKMq32
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2024
What’s allowed and what’s prohibited during bandh?
According to Shimla’s District Magistrate, Anupam Kashyap, the orders were issued due to the prevailing law and order situation in the area and concerns about a potential breach of public peace.
Hindu organisations have been pressing for the removal of the illegal structure and protests had already taken place on September 6 at Chaura Maidan, near the Vidhan Sabha and in Sanjauli. The protests were part of their campaign to have the unauthorised construction torn down.
The prohibitory orders also ban public rallies, processions, hunger strikes, or any form of demonstration without permission. Slogan shouting, blocking roads, or obstructing public spaces, highways and footpaths are prohibited, as is the carrying of any flammable objects in public spaces, including roads and places of worship.
What led to Sanjauli mosque row?
The mosque dispute has been ongoing, but recent unrest fuelled from an incident between two shopkeepers belonging to different communities. In Manyali area of Shimla, a fight broke out between the owner of a salon and an electrical equipment shopkeeper on September 1. Their shops are located next to each other and an argument escalated into a physical confrontation.
Initially, local shopkeepers stepped in to calm the situation, but tensions continued to rise. Both sides gathered their supporters and another fight ensued, during which the electrical shopkeeper sustained serious injuries. This led to anger among the Hindu community, which then mobilised for a protest.
However, according to the Muslim community, the mosque is legally owned by the Waqf Board. The mosque’s Imam, Maulana Shahzad, said that the mosque has been there since before 1947. He also mentioned that the ongoing legal case is being handled by the Waqf Board.