Mosque protest now erupts in Kullu, Hindu activists take to streets despite prohibitory orders
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KULLU: The mosque dispute that began in the Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla has spread to other cities of the state, with Kullu becoming the latest hotspot.
Activists of Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti are leading a large-scale protest in Kullu’s Akhada Bazaar, where tensions have been running high. Despite the imposition of Section 163 by Kullu’s District Commissioner Torul S Ravish, which bans the gathering of five or more people to maintain law and order, protesters have taken to the streets in defiance.
Akhada Bazaar has been heavily fortified, with the police administration bolstering security and increasing patrol a day ahead of the scheduled demonstration. The protest, which began this morning, is primarily focused on the demolition of an allegedly illegal mosque in Sanjauli, Shimla, and the dissolution of the Waqf Board. Local residents are also voicing their opposition to the presence of a mosque in Kullu.
A leader of the Devbhoomi Hindu Jagran Manch stated that the protest in Kullu is intended to be peaceful, with demonstrators gathering at Gamen Bridge before deciding on the route for their rally.
However, SDM Vikas Shukla has made it clear that the Jama Masjid in Kullu is not illegal, seeking to quell rising tensions in the region. Despite this clarification, emotions remain heated due to the wider controversy.
The mosque dispute first erupted on August 31 at Chamiana in Shimla, following a violent clash between two groups. Six persons from a particular community, accused of beating up a local resident, sought refuge in the Sanjauli mosque.
The incident ignited demands for the mosque’s demolition, particularly because it was allegedly constructed without proper authorisation. According to Hindu outfits, while the mosque predates 1947 and was initially a two-story structure, it has since been expanded illegally to five stories between 2010 and 2020.
