Stone-pelted, forces deployed: Protest erupts in Mumbai's Dharavi over BMC's demolition of 'illegal' mosque construction

MUMBAI: Tensions rose in Dharavi after a large number of residents gathered on the streets to protest against the BMC's move to demolish unauthorised construction at the Subhani mosque on the 90 ft road, forcing the civic team to discontinue the action on Saturday.
Police registered a case after stones were pelted at a BMC vehicle. As a precautionary measure, police have deployed heavy bandobast in the area.
A large crowd gathered to protest the BMC action at around 9 am.Subsequently, according to the BMC, after trustees of the mosque sought a period of four to five days to remove the encroached construction on their own, the BMC gave them that deadline. According to the civic body, an eviction notice was earlier served on the mosque and action was initiated as per the notice.
The G-North ward had initiated action to carry out demolition of unauthorised parts of the mosque twice this year, the latest on Sept 5, but the action was stopped at the last moment on both occasions. Action was stopped in Jan due to instructions from top authorities.
Political activists questioned the BMC action and claimed some repairs have been carried out for the safety of the structure and BMC has no right to now demolish the structure as the DRP (Dharavi redevelopment project) has come into being and the mosque had a photo pass.
"The police were not prepared, and they told us the situation could slip out of hands and result in violence. Meanwhile, the trustees too agreed to demolish the unauthorised construction on their own and sought more time," said a BMC official.
Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis said those in-charge of the mosque have informed BMC they would remove the construction. "There are past high court orders in this case. BMC in the past had initiated demolition action but mosque authorities had requested action be delayed till after Eid. This morning, when the BMC team reached the site for demolition, they were given a written assurance that the construction will be removed in 3-4 days. No one should try to create a law-and-order situation. That would not be proper," he said in Nagpur.
Cabinet minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, who visited Dharavi police station, said, "Those who attempted to take the law into their own hands will face appropriate action."
Ex-MP Kirit Somaiya demanded an investigation into a letter on the letterhead of the Subhani mosque in Dharavi that went viral on Saturday morning urging people to gather and stop the demolition. - Inputs by Mateen Hafeez and Clara Lewis