Shimla Mosque: Himachal Pradesh Police book BJP, VHP member for violent protests

Despite the Muslim Welfare Committee’s willingness to demolish the unauthorised part of the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla to maintain harmony and peace, members of the BJP and VHP staged a violent protest demanding the demolition of the mosque.

The Himachal Pradesh Police have identified around 50 suspects, including leaders from the BJP, volunteers from Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and local councillors, in connection with violent protests demanding the demolition of a mosque in Sanjauli, The Indian Express reported.

Among those identified are prominent figures such as VHP's state secretary Tushar Dogar, organising secretary Chandan Bodh Katpa, and BJP co-in-charge of Shimla’s parliamentary seat, Sanjay Sood.

Other suspects include former and sitting councillors from the BJP, along with local leaders from Shimla and Solan. The VHP has already announced it will provide legal assistance to those booked.

The protests took place on 11 September when thousands gathered at Sanjauli, breaking barricades installed by the police and clashing with officers as they attempted to reach the mosque. The situation escalated as the protesters attempted to breach additional barricades placed near the mosque, forcing the police to resort to lathi charges to disperse the crowd. These actions led to violent confrontations, during which six police officers were injured, with two sustaining serious injuries and being admitted to hospital.

Investigations into the violence have revealed that key suspects are linked to multiple First Information Reports (FIRs), with some found absconding. Law enforcement agencies have also recovered CCTV footage, videos, and photographs showing individuals throwing stones at police officers.

Efforts to track the suspects are ongoing, with raids being conducted to apprehend those responsible. Authorities have sought assistance from police in neighbouring districts such as Solan, Sirmaur, and Kangra to locate suspects who may have fled the area. The police are also analysing call detail records of those believed to have instigated the protest and have hinted that more cases will likely be registered as the investigation continues.

The protests have been linked to demands for the demolition of an unauthorised part of the mosque, and tensions in Shimla remain high. Following the violence, the police have registered cases under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.

These charges range from promoting enmity on religious grounds, unlawful assembly, wrongful restraint, criminal conspiracy, to assaulting public servants and spreading religious misinformation.

In a separate but related development, a Muslim welfare committee has offered to voluntarily demolish the unauthorised part of the mosque in question. In a move aimed at preserving harmony, members of the local Muslim community demolished a wall of another mosque situated on government land in Mandi.

The welfare committee, representing permanent residents of Himachal Pradesh, met with Shimla’s Municipal Commissioner and expressed their commitment to maintaining peace and brotherhood in the area.