From 45 sq m, see how much Mandi mosque expanded illegally; claims on temple ruins below add to more tension
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Mandi: Tension recently erupted in Mandi town over the unauthorised expansion of a mosque on Jail Road, with Hindu residents expressing outrage after an official investigation revealed the structure had significantly exceeded its original size.
The mosque, which was initially built on 45 square metres, had reportedly expanded to 231 square metres without the necessary approval from the Municipal Corporation, as confirmed by a committee set up to probe the matter.
The controversy began when members of the Muslim community demolished the older mosque and rebuilt it as a two-storey structure. The Municipal Corporation Commissioner Court, which is currently reviewing the case, had previously established a committee under the leadership of the Joint Commissioner to investigate the situation.
The findings confirmed that the community holds only 45 square metres of land near the mosque, but they had illegally extended the building to cover 231 square metres without submitting the required construction plans for approval.
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PWD land encroached upon
Adding to the complexity, the report also stated that the Muslim community had encroached upon land belonging to the Public Works Department (PWD), which has since been reclaimed by the authorities following the public dispute.
Commissioner declares expansion illegal
In a recent ruling, the Municipal Corporation Commissioner Court declared the two-storey structure of the mosque as illegal and ordered the community to revert the building to its original state within 30 days. “The old mosque was situated on 45 square metres, whereas illegal construction has extended it to 231 square metres without any approved map,” said Municipal Corporation Commissioner HS Rana.
The Muslim Welfare Committee has acknowledged receipt of the decision. A representative of the committee confirmed that they are reviewing the ruling and will discuss their next steps during a meeting.
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Hindu temple remains spark demand for excavation
Further escalating tensions, local Hindu residents have claimed that the mosque is built over the remains of an ancient Hindu temple. A group of citizens submitted a memorandum to Mandi Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, demanding an archaeological excavation under the supervision of experts to verify their claims. They argue that before any widening of the Mandi-Rewalsar road at the site of the mosque, the remains of the alleged temple should be investigated.
The Deputy Commissioner has asked the petitioners to provide more evidence to substantiate their claims. Intellectuals from the region have pointed out that land records from the time of local kings may offer insight into the matter.
