Protest against mosque in Uttarkashi takes violent turn, several injured, police say structure is legal

Protesters nether the banner of Sanyukt Sanatan Dharm Rakshak Sangh connected Thursday took retired a protestation march demanding the demolition of the mosque.

Uttarkashi SP Amit Srivastava said, “The incidental took spot astatine astir 2.30 pm. The way of the protestation was already decided and barricading was set. However, the protesters demanded to spell to a antithetic broadside (towards the mosque). They demanded that we unfastened the barriers, and erstwhile that was not done, they got agitated. There was a scuffle and chromatic pelting, and we tried to disperse the crowd.”

Earlier this year, an RTI exertion had been filed seeking accusation connected the legality of the mosque. In response, the medication said they did not person the indispensable documents. Following this, a memorandum was submitted to the District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, demanding the mosque’s demolition.

On September 6, respective members of right-wing groups staged a sit-in protestation extracurricular the DM’s office, demanding the mosque’s demolition. They issued a three-day ultimatum to the administration, threatening to demolish the mosque themselves if their request wasn’t met.

The Sanyukt Sanatan Dharm Rakshak Sangh, a conjugation of respective outfits, connected September 9 submitted different memorandum to DM Meherban Singh Bisht, claiming the mosque was not registered successful gross records and demanding that it beryllium demolished.

Subsequently, the DM formed a committee led by SDM Bhatwari to analyse the matter. The committee upheld the mosque’s legality, saying that it does not inhabit authorities land.

“Some right-wing organisations had fixed a memorandum to the medication claiming that it is an amerciable mosque. As per our records, it is built connected registered onshore and it is not illegal. It is registered successful the names of 4 people. The medication has conveyed the aforesaid to these organisations,” said SP Srivastava.

The Sanyukt Sanatan Dharm Rakshak Sangh rejected the committee’s findings and continued to importune that the mosque was amerciable and should beryllium demolished.

Thursday’s protestation came aft the umbrella radical sought and was granted support to clasp a protestation rally. They were permitted to instrumentality retired the rally from Shri Dev Suman Manch, Hanuman Chowk, walk done the main market, Kali Kamli Dharamshala, earlier concluding astatine the Bhatwadi Taxi Stand Ramlila Ground. The rally was taxable to respective conditions, including compliance with Supreme Court guidelines connected the usage of DJ dependable systems, a prohibition connected weapons, adherence to the acceptable clip (11 americium to 12 noon), and a regularisation connected making arguable statements.