Hindu right bodies stage mass protest in Shimla over 'illegal' mosque

Hindu right bodies on Thursday staged a massive protest at Chaura maidan here in the vicinity of the Vidhan Sabha, demanding demolition of an "illegal" mosque in Sanjauli. The area teemed with hundreds of demonstrators, several of whom carried Hindu religion insignia, such as saffron flags and banners bearing Lord Ram's image. Dev Bhumi Shatriya Sangathan President Rumit Singh Thakur, who gave a call to "sanatanis" to assemble in Shimla, said people from across the state responded to his call and demonstrated "Sanatan unity". The Thursday protest was a fallout of an attack on a businessman in the Malyana area on August 30, allegedly by some people from the Muslim community. On Sunday, people gathered in Sanjauli and demanded the demolition of a mosque there, as well as action against the guilty in the Malyana attack under the charge of attempted murder. Thakur on Thursday alleged that outsiders are coming to Himachal Pradesh in droves and demanded the government verify their identity and register their trades. He said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had called him yesterday and assured him of an action in the matter.