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The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and various business groups in Himachal Pradesh called for a bandh, or strike, to protest against alleged unauthorized construction of mosques and recent police actions against protesters. The bandh, which lasted until 11 am, saw demonstrations in several towns, including Bilaspur, Kullu, Chamba, Hamirpur, and Paonta Sahib. Protesters marched through the streets, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa and voicing their opposition to what they termed the "illegal expansion" of mosques in the state. Their main complaints centered around the construction of a portion of a mosque in Shimla and alleged encroachment on government land by a mosque in Mandi.
Tensions escalated after police responded to protests with force. In Shimla, police used "laathi charges", a form of baton charge, while water cannons were deployed against demonstrators in Mandi on Wednesday and Friday. Protesters have also raised concerns about the presence of "outsiders" in the state and are demanding thorough verification of individuals from outside Himachal Pradesh. The Manali Beopar Mandal, a business association, closed shops for two hours in support of the cause, while shops in Dalhousie remained shut as well. The protests followed clashes between police and protesters in Shimla's Sanjauli area on Wednesday, where ten people, including four police officers, were injured.
The VHP has been vocal in its support of the protests. VHP state president Keshav Verma stated that there have been several incidents of Muslims taking the law into their own hands in Chamba and that they have been advocating for verification of outsiders for a long time. Pankaj Bhartiya, the state VHP assistant secretary, emphasized that the organization would continue to fight for the rights of Hindus and local people and would not allow individuals from other states with fake Aadhaar Cards to harm their cause. He further alleged that numerous unauthorized mosques have sprung up in various parts of the state, including Hamirpur. Anil Soni, the Beopar Mandal chief of Hamirpur, expressed support for the cause of the local people and vowed not to tolerate activities of those selling goods without valid documents or paying taxes.
Amidst the rising tensions, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu appealed for peace and harmony on Friday. He urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to refrain from making provocative statements and emphasized that the state respects all religions, has always been a land of peace and brotherhood, and welcomes tourists. The chief minister stressed the importance of maintaining this spirit.
Source: Himachal Bandh: Himachal: VHP calls for bandh against unauthorised mosques and police clashes