NEW DELHI: Massive protests broke out in Mandi city of Himanchal Pradesh on Friday against the alleged illegal construction at a mosque in the Jail Road area.
The mosque authorities claimed that they themselves demolished the unauthorised portion of the mosque on Thursday.
The construction was on the land which belonged to the Public Works Department.Both the PWD and the municipal corporation had served notice to the mosque management in this regard.
The PWD officials had informed us that a wall of the mosque was in PWD land and we were served notice. So we decided to demolish the wall,” news agency PTI quote Iqbal Ali, a member of the mosque committee, as saying.
Heavy security arrangements were in place in Mandi city following violent clashes in capital city Shimla on Thursday where Hindu groups staged a protest against the alleged illegal construction at Sanjauli mosque premises.
“Law and order will be maintained. Through different sources, we have information that some organisations have given a call to gather here. Around 300 police personnel have been deployed, and police nakas have been placed at the entrance of Mandi town. Action will be taken on violation of prohibitory orders under 163 BNS,” Mandi SP Sakshi Verma said.
(With agency inputs)