KULLU: After Sanjauli in Shimla, a whole lot of protesters defied prohibitory orders and took out a march in Mandi city of Himachal Pradesh on Friday, demanding demolition of the illegally constructed portion of a mosque.
The Mandi municipal company has ordered demolition of the unauthorised portion inside 30 days. The mosque society had began eradicating encroachments on PWD land on Thursday following smaller protests within the city over the previous few days.
On Friday, a whole lot of slogan-shouting protesters belonging to varied Hindu outfits took out processions and reached Jail Street, the place the mosque is situated, within the afternoon.Many tried to cross the police barricades, and cops had to make use of water cannons to manage the mob.
The state of affairs within the city grew to become tense. The protesters dispersed solely after Mandi deputy commissioner Apoorv Devgan assured them that the difficulty can be resolved quickly throughout the framework of the regulation.
Anticipating bother, the administration had imposed curbs below part 163 of BNSS and deployed 300 police personnel throughout the city. Police additionally closed the primary roads and arrange checkposts at entry and exit factors of Mandi.
Addressing a press convention, municipal commissioner H S Rana mentioned the unlawful development was first dropped at the discover of the civic physique in October final 12 months.
“A grievance was lodged by a neighborhood resident about unlawful development and encroachment by the Muslim Welfare Society, which runs the mosque. After we checked, we discovered the constructing to be unlawful because the map was not accredited by the city and nation planning division. Additionally, the society owns 231 sqm land, however recent measurement discovered the overall land below its occupation to be 240 sqm. This extra land is owned by PWD,” mentioned Rana. The society was despatched a number of notices, nevertheless it ignored them.
Protests are additionally being held in opposition to “unlawful development of mosques” and “unlawful avenue distributors” in different elements of the state, together with Jogindernagar in Mandi and Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district.
