Shimla Protests Escalate: Police Urge Peace Amid Mosque Controversy

Shimla police called for peace as protests over the Sanjauli mosque controversy continued, resulting in injuries to officers. Multiple cases are under investigation, with Hindu organisations also protesting in Mandi over another alleged illegal mosque construction.

Police in Shimla on Friday renewed their appeal for peace as protests continued in Shimla over the Sanjauli mosque controversy. Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar told ANI, "We had earlier also appealed to all the people to maintain peace regarding the Sanjauli case... But the way the incident has come to light and the way stone pelting happened, our 2 soldiers have been seriously injured, so it is natural that it should be investigated."

SP Kumar said they are in the process of identifying the people who committed the crime. "From the investigation of the entire case, it seems that this entire incident was being done in a planned manner... We are identifying the people who have committed this crime. It is also being investigated on whose orders it was done," SP Kumar added.

A total of 8 cases have been registered in this matter, which are also being investigated. Meanwhile, Hindu organisations staged a protest on Friday in Mandi over another alleged illegally constructed Mosque in the city. As the crowd tried to bring down the line of barricades, police resorted to firing water cannons to disperse the crowd.

The protests had been called for by Hindu organisations even after mosque authorities demolished parts of the complex that were allegedly unauthorised. Large crowds of protestors gathered along the jail road in Mandi and shouted slogans against the state government, demanding action against the alleged illegal construction. Earlier on Friday, the Himachal Pradesh Police tightened security and placed barricades in the Jail Road area in Mandi.

According to Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma, the heightened security was done following information received by the police of a gathering called by some organisation. This protest followed those that broke out over the illegal construction of a mosque on Wednesday.

Earlier on Friday, the police released the stone-pelting video of Wednesday's protest held in Sanjauli over the matter. On September 11, protestors removed the first layer of barricading and clashed with the security forces while entering the Dhalli Tunnel East portal during their protest march. Police personnel used water cannons and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse protestors heading towards the Sanjauli area of Shimla.

(With inputs from agencies.)