- By Nidhi Giri
- Sat, 05 Oct 2024 06:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Sanjauli Mosque Row: The Shimla Municipal Commissioner Court on Saturday ordered dismantling of three unauthorised floors of Sanjauli mosque building in Himachal Pradesh. The Court has given two months to the Masjid committee and Waqf Board to complete the demolition process. The next date of hearing in the case is December 21.
"The court has passed orders that the Masjid committee and Waqf Board should demolish the top three floors of the mosque at their own cost. The time limit of two months has been given for the demolition. In due course, it will be decided about the rest of the portion of the building. The next date of hearing is 21st December. The mosque committee has given the undertaking to demolish the top three floors,” said the lawyer representing Waqf Board in the case, BS Thakur, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"The Masjid Committee will comply with the order to demolish (unauthorised floors of the mosque) within two months,” he added.
The row over a 14-year-old four-story building erupted in August after some people, allegedly associated with the Sanjauli mosque, assaulted a local merchant with rods and sticks. The attack, which resulted in Malayana businessman Yashpal Singh ending up in hospital, stirred the outsider-local issue in the sensitive region. Himachal Police then arrested six people named, Gulnawaz (32), Sarik (20), Saif Ali (23), Rohit (23), Rihan (17), and Samir (17), who were reportedly residents of Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar.
The row intensified after the accused allegedly took shelter in the mosque and was later discovered there. Since the incident, locals have been protesting against the Sanjauli mosque, alleging it was illegally constructed.
While the ruling Congress has been terming it a law and order case, the BJP has accused it of harbouring the outsiders and demanded swift action from the Sukhu government.