उत्तरकाशी में मस्जिद गिराने की मांग को लेकर प्रदर्शन: हिंदू संगठन का आरोप- सरकारी जमीन पर बनी; पुलिस के लाठीचार्ज में 27 घायल

The district administration clarified that the mosque is old and is built on the land of people of Muslim community.

27 people, including seven policemen, were injured in police lathicharge during a protest demanding the demolition of a mosque in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The protesters alleged that the mosque built in Barahat area was built on government land.

However, the district administration clarified that the mosque is old and is built on the land of people of Muslim community. To stop the protesters from moving towards the mosque, the administration put up barricades on the Gangotri National Highway. There was a heated argument between the protesters and the police to remove it but the police did not allow them to proceed.

Uttarkashi SP Amit Srivastava said the situation is normal in the city. Adequate police force has been deployed.

Protestors’ allegation – Stone pelting took place as part of a conspiracy to worsen the situation. After some struggle, the protesters sat on dharna near the barricading and started reciting Hanuman Chalisa. After some time, when they tried to remove the barricading, a scuffle broke out between the protesters and the police.

Officials said that during this time stone pelting started, after which the police first fired tear gas shells and then lathicharged. Some protesters and policemen were injured in the lathicharge. At the same time, the protesters allege that stones were pelted at the police as part of a conspiracy to worsen the situation.

Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Srivastava said that the incident of stone pelting has been taken seriously. It is being verified. The accused will be identified and action will be taken against them. Now the situation in the city is normal and peaceful. Adequate police force is deployed. Security has also been tightened around the mosque.

Protests taking place at various places after Sanjauli Masjid controversy

A 5-storey mosque was built without permission in Sanjauli, Shimla, the work of demolishing the upper 3 floors of which has started by the committee itself.

There was an uproar in the entire Himachal Pradesh due to Sanjauli Mosque in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Hindu organizations had also raised the demand for demolition of illegal mosques in Solan, Mandi, Kullu and Sirmaur districts. After this, such a case has also come to light in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. However, the administration says that the mosque is legal.

The mosque was built before the independence of the country, when it was only two storeyed. Later three more floors were built illegally. A case was going on against this in the Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court for 14 years.

The matter came into limelight on September 1 when protests broke out outside the mosque following a fight between two communities. Local residents alleged that people were peeping into their houses from the illegal floors of the mosque.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s order – Mosque Committee should demolish illegal floors at its own expense, work started

On October 5, the Municipal Corporation Commissioner had ordered the demolition of the illegal floors of the mosque. Sanjauli Masjid Committee has been asked to do this work at its own expense. After taking permission from the Waqf Board, the mosque committee started the work of demolishing the illegal part from October 21.

This matter is also to be heard in Himachal High Court. Local people have filed a petition for this. He says that the decision has not been taken yet in the Municipal Corporation Commissioner’s court for 14 years. The commissioner’s order to demolish the mosque is also interim.