Shimla, September 11: Thousands of local residents took to the streets in Sanjauli on Wednesday and protested against the alleged illegal construction of a mosque in the area. The protest, which began at 11 am, soon turned into a confrontation with the police, following which drones were deployed to monitor the situation and lathicharge was carried out to disperse the crowd.
Angry protesters over unauthorized construction in the mosque marched from Dhali towards Sanjauli market and broke police barricades on the way. As the crowd swelled, tension escalated and the protesters raised slogans and refused to retreat despite efforts by the police to control the situation.
The administration initially attempted to stop the protest by spraying water cannons, but the protesters continued to move ahead breaking barricades erected near the mosque. Shimla police, under the command of Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi, flew two drones to monitor the movements of the protesters and identify any incidents of violence.
Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the growing crowd, leaving several people from both sides injured. Protesters clashed with police officials, with some demonstrators attempting to break the remaining barricades. Despite the presence of heavy police force, including officers equipped with anti-riot equipment and additional forces called in from Janga, the situation remained tense for several hours.
The demonstration was divided into two main groups- one near the mosque and the other at Sanjauli Chowk, where protesters from Chota Shimla and Lakkar Bazaar had gathered. The large-scale violence led to senior officers, including Director General of Police Atul Verma, IG JP Singh and Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, rushing to the spot. CID officials in civilian clothes were also deployed to monitor the situation at the ground level.
The police have announced plans to review footage from drones used during the protests to identify those responsible for inciting the violence. “We will examine the drone footage and take action against those who broke the law,” a police spokesperson said.
By 4:00 pm, law enforcement successfully cleared the protesters from Sanjauli Chowk, though the atmosphere still remained tense. The injured protesters and police personnel were given medical aid, and additional police forces have been deployed at key locations in Sanjauli to prevent further escalation of the situation.
The protest has sparked a fresh discussion on illegal construction in Shimla, with residents demanding strict enforcement of building rules. The local administration is yet to state the legality of the mosque’s construction, but officials are appealing for peace and promising a thorough investigation into the matter.
As the situation remains volatile, the police continue to monitor the area to maintain peace. On the contrary, locals are anxious waiting for clarity on the future of the construction project.
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