Amid escalating tensions over the Sanjauli mosque issue in Shimla, a Muslim welfare committee on Thursday urged the municipal commissioner to seal the unauthorised portion and also offered to demolish it by a court order.
The panel comprised the Imam of the mosque members of the Waqf board and the mosque management committee.
A delegation of the committee requested a representation to Shimla Municipal Commissioner Bhupendra Attri and said Muslims living in the locality are permanent residents of Himachal Pradesh and it was taking the step to preserve harmony and brotherhood.
"We have sought permission from the Shimla municipal commissioner to demolish the unauthorised part of the mosque situated in Sanjauli," member of the welfare committee Mufti Mohammad Shafi Kasmi said.
According to the Imam of the Sanjauli mosque, "There is no pressure on us, we have been living here for decades and this decision has been taken as a Himachali.
We want to stay in peace and brotherhood should prevail." Confirming the receipt of the representation, Attri said, "The delegation of Muslim Welfare Committee requested sealing of the unauthorised portion of the mosque till the case is decided."
"They said they would themselves demolish the structure if the decision of the case is against them," he added.
Members of the Dev Bhoomi Sangarsh Committee, which had given the protest call against the unauthorised construction in the mosque, welcomed the move.
"We welcome the move of the Muslim community and would be the first to hug them for taking this step.
Shops remain closed in Sanjauli
Meanwhile, in Mandi, members of the Muslim community themselves demolished an unauthorised portion of a mosque at Jail road in the town.
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.
In Shimla, the bandh call was given by Shimla Beopar Mandal, associated with the BJP, from 10 AM to 1 PM.
The protesters took out a march to the deputy commissioner's office and held a rally.
Sanjeev Thakur, president of the traders organisation, claimed the bandh was complete and peaceful.
He said the Beopar Mandal has 3,600 members and shops also remained closed in the periphery of Shimla city.
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