Tension rises as Sanjauli protesters set deadline in mosque dispute

Yog Raj Sharma

The North News

Shimla, November 21

Protesters in Sanjauli on Friday gave the local administration a deadline of 1pm to provide written assurance on their demands in the ongoing dispute over an alleged illegal mosque structure. Demonstrators warned that the agitation would escalate if the document was not issued by the deadline. The protesters, who are sitting on a hunger strike outside the Sanjauli police station, said they would not call off the demonstration without written commitments from officials. The administration has indicated during talks that it is willing to meet most of the demands.

Senior officers arrived for negotiations after warnings of a larger mobilisation. During the talks, the health of Vijay Sharma, co-convenor of the Dev Bhoomi Sangharsh Samiti and one of the hunger strikers, deteriorated. He was taken to IGMC Hospital for medical treatment. Officials said discussions would continue as they seek to defuse tensions and bring the protest to a peaceful close.