Security personnel keep vigil after prohibitory orders were imposed in the Sanjauli locality following escalating tension over illegal construction in a mosque and call for a bandh by Hindu organisations, in Shimla on Wednesday, Sept 11, 2024. (PTI Photo)

By Aman Kumar Bhardwaj

In Short

  • Hundreds of protesters march towards mosque in Sanjauli
  • Protesters stopped, lathicharged by police personnel on their way
  • Crowd topples barricades, cops use water cannon

Shimla witnessed chaotic scenes on Wednesday as locals clashed with police during a protest march over alleged illegal construction inside a mosque complex in the city.

Visuals from Shimla showed protesters toppling police barricades and security personnel resorting to lathicharge and water cannons to control the crowd. The protesters were heard chanting slogans such as “Himachal Ne Thaana Hai, Devbhoomi Ko Bachana Hai” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

The march was called to protest against the alleged illegal construction of extra floors in a mosque located in Shimla’s Sanjauli area. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had said that while people have the right to protest, they should do so peacefully and without damaging public property.

“There have never been communal riots in our state. Himachal is known as Devbhoomi. Currently, the situation is normal and everyday public life is running smoothly. Protesting is the right of the people, but everything should happen within the limits of the law”, Himachal Pradesh Minister Rohit Thakur echoed Sukhu after the prohibitory orders were issued.

This story was originally published in indiatoday.in. Read the full story here.