Shimla: The Shimla Municipal Commissioner Court has mandated the demolition of the top three floors of a mosque located in the Sanjauli area, following demands from right-wing Hindu organizations since early September.
The court granted the mosque committee a two-month period to carry out the demolition at their own expense, according to Waqf Board lawyer BS Thakur.
“A decision regarding the remaining portions of the building will be made later,” Thakur noted, adding that the next hearing is scheduled for December 21. The mosque committee has committed to removing the top three floors.
Tensions surrounding the mosque escalated after a conflict between shopkeepers from different communities. This incident sparked demands from Hindutva groups for the mandatory registration of migrant workers. Protests included instances of racial and Islamophobic slogans.
On September 7, the Himachal Waqf Board clarified in court that the mosque is its property and that the dispute centers around the construction of additional floors. A subsequent protest on September 11 turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police while attempting to approach the mosque.
