Controversy over illegal mosque in Mandi: Temple remains claimed, demolition orders issued

Mandi, September 18: The Mandi Municipal Corporation has declared a two-storey mosque on Jail Road as illegal, and ordered the Muslim community to restore the structure to its original form within 30 days. The decision comes after an inquiry conducted by a specially constituted committee revealed that the mosque was illegally extended from its original 45 sq m to 231 sq m without obtaining the required approvals.

According to reports, the mosque was initially constructed on a plot of 45 sq m. However, the Muslim community demolished the structure and rebuilt it by occupying 231 sq m without submitting plans to the municipal corporation. Additionally, a part of the illegal extension was encroaching upon land owned by the Public Works Department (PWD), which has been recently reclaimed following controversies.

Municipal commissioner HS Rana confirmed that the extension was unauthorised, saying, “The original mosque was limited to 45 sq m, but the new construction spanning 231 sq m was carried out without the municipal corporation’s approval.” The verdict orders the community to remove the illegal construction and restore the mosque to its original size within 30 days.

The Muslim Welfare Community, represented by Iqbal Ali, acknowledged receipt of the court’s verdict and announced that the matter would be discussed in a committee meeting before deciding on their next steps. “We have received the decision and further action will be decided after consultation,” Ali said.

Claims of Hindu temple remains under mosque

Amid the controversy, local residents have claimed that there are remains of a Hindu temple under the mosque. In a memorandum submitted to deputy commissioner Apurva Devgan, residents of the city demanded an archaeological excavation of the site under the supervision of the archaeology department. The residents argue that historical records show that the land must have once belonged to a Hindu temple and have sought an investigation before any further construction or road widening is carried out.

The deputy commissioner has responded by requesting residents to provide evidence supporting their claims. Any decision about the excavation will be made only after all the facts have been reviewed.

The decision has further fuelled existing tensions in the area, as the community awaits further discussions while locals press for an excavation of the alleged temple remains. The municipal corporation’s decision, combined with demands for an archaeological investigation, has set the stage for potentially escalating disputes in the coming weeks.