Himachal Pradesh: Demolition Of Illegal Mosque Floors Begins In Shimla A Month After Hindu Protests

The unauthorised floors of a mosque in Shimla's Sanjauli area of Himachal Pradesh, which caused widespread outrage among the Hindu community last month, are set to be demolished based on orders from the municipal commissioner.

The demolition began on Monday (21 October) after the 16 October order. The Sanjauli Mosque Committee then sought approval from the Himachal Pradesh Waqf Board to carry out the demolition.

Upon receiving permission, the committee initiated the demolition, which is being funded by the committee itself, according to The New Indian Express sources.

Muhammad Latif, president of the Sanjauli Mosque Committee, confirmed that the Waqf Board issued a no-objection certificate for the demolition. He noted that it may take a couple of months to complete the demolition, as the committee is covering the costs without external financial assistance.

The committee had informed the district administration, the Superintendent of Police, and the Shimla Municipal Corporation about their plan. Latif also mentioned that on 12 September, a delegation from the committee had submitted a representation offering to voluntarily demolish the unauthorised floors.

The Shimla Municipal Commissioner had ordered the demolition on 5 October, targeting the three illegal floors of the mosque, which had expanded from a single-story building to five stories without proper permissions.

While the Waqf Board claims ownership of the land, locals have contested this, asserting that the land belongs to the state revenue department and that the mosque's expansion has caused them difficulties. The Muslim Welfare Committee had earlier volunteered to handle the demolition.

Last month, a large protest was organised by a Hindu group in Shimla, demanding the demolition of the mosque, emphasising that it was an issue of illegal construction rather than a communal matter.

Protesters, chanting slogans like "Jai Shri Ram" and "Hindu Ekta Zindabad," gathered at Sabzi Mandi in Dhalli and marched toward the mosque, breaking through police barricades, resulting in a lathi charge. Around 10 people were injured in the clash.