Himachal Police File Case After Devotees Prevented from Entering ‘Illegal’ Sanjauli Mosque

Himachal Pradesh Police have initiated legal action against six individuals, comprising four women and two men affiliated with the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti, for deliberately preventing Muslim devotees from entering and offering prayers at the Sanjauli mosque in Shimla, which a municipal court had earlier ruled as an unauthorized construction. The registration of the case follows complaints of obstruction and reflects efforts to maintain public order in a sensitive area.

The incident transpired on Friday when a group of devotees traveling from various other states arrived at the mosque to perform namaz, an act that provoked immediate resistance from local residents. The protesters positioned themselves at the entrance, asserting that no religious activities should occur within a building officially declared illegal and slated for demolition by judicial order. This standoff highlighted underlying tensions over the structure's status.

Upon arrival, police personnel attempted to de-escalate the situation and facilitate access for the devotees; however, the accused remained defiant, insisting on identity checks for all entrants and chanting slogans questioning the legitimacy of prayers in the condemned site. The women protesters specifically voiced concerns that passersby were infringing on their privacy by peering into nearby residences, escalating the verbal confrontation.

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A video recording of the entire episode rapidly circulated on social media platforms, depicting the devotees being forcibly turned away and underscoring the intensity of the blockade. In response, authorities filed charges under sections related to disturbing communal harmony and breaching law and order, with a thorough investigation now underway to ascertain full details and potential additional involvement.

Following the event, representatives of the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti formally submitted a written memorandum to a senior police officer in Shimla, demanding immediate restrictions on the influx of outsiders for prayer purposes due to challenges in verifying their identities. The letter further called for the disconnection of electricity and water supplies to the mosque, reiterating the court's directive on its illegality and seeking enforcement to prevent further gatherings.

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