BJP, VHP members among nearly 50 booked for violent protests against ‘illegal’ Shimla mosque
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has announced free legal aid for those booked in the cases.
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At least 50 persons, including members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, have been booked in eight cases registered in connection with the violent protests last week in Himachal Pradesh against an alleged illegally constructed mosque, The Indian Express reported on Monday
Over the past two weeks, Hindutva organisations have been demanding the demolition of portions of the mosque in Shimla’s Sanjauli area that they claim are illegal.
On September 11, the police used water cannons and lathi-charged demonstrators when the agitation turned violent. Around 10 persons, including police personnel and women, were injured in the clashes, PTI reported.
Shimla Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi said that 50 to 60 suspects were identified for violating prohibitory orders, throwing stones and attacking the police personnel during the protest.
The Shimla district administration had issued prohibitory orders in Sanjauli on September 10 after Hindutva organisations called for the protest march.
“Raids are on to nab them,” Gandhi said about protestors. “Some of them were found absconding. Key identified suspects were found involved in more than one registered FIRs [first information reports].”
Gandhi added that many of the councillors had also participated in the protests. “Certain VHP [Vishwa Hindu Parishad] volunteers were earlier booked in cases of protests,” he said. “We have also sought assistance of our counterparts in Solan,...
