'Will be demolished if... ': Himachal minister's assurance amid Shimla mosque row

NEW DELHI: Tension prevailed in Himachal Pradesh's Sanjauli as protestors hit the roads on Wednesday against the alleged illegal construction of a mosque.
Hindu groups, who had called for a bandh, came out on streets along with the people in the hill state as they were irked by the Shimla Municipal Corporation's slow pace in deciding the legality of the mosque's construction -- which has been pending since 2010.
The case has been heard nearly 45 times, but the final decision on the matter is yet to come.
The protest turned ugly when the agitators clashed with the police and removed barricades to enter the Dhalli tunnel that leads to the Sanjauli area, where the mosque stands. The cops pushed against the protesting crowds by resorting to lathi-charge and also used water cannons to disperse the gatherings.
'It will be demolished if... '
Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh, to persuade the enraged protestors, assured action once the decision on the matter comes and said the mosque "will be demolished if it is found to be illegal"
"This matter has been pending for a long period. As far as the construction of illegal buildings is concerned, the government has taken cognisance of it. I have also strongly said in the assembly that as soon as the decision comes on this within the ambit of law action will be taken, it will be demolished if it is found to be illegal," Singh said.
The minister said the government will "move ahead with the process of law" and that an "atmosphere of peace should prevail in Himachal Pradesh".
Protestors demand to seal mosque
Several protesters complained that the government first denied them permission to hold a peaceful demonstration and now was arresting them.
Vijay Sharma, one of the demonstration's leaders told news agency PTI that the police lathi-charge on the protesters led to the volatile atmosphere in the area.
"We demand that the structure be sealed till the hearing is concluded, all outsiders coming to the state be registered and a vendor's policy formulated on a population basis with 95 per cent licence to Hindus," Sharma said.
Many women also joined the protest and recited Hanuman Chalisa at Dhalli before breaking the barricades.
Sunita, who was among the protesters, claimed police lathi-charged children as well.
"We are neither from the Congress nor from the BJP, we are Hindus and want these street vendors out," she told PTI.
Janvi, a student of Class 6 of SPM Public School in Sanjauli, the students were scared as they were stuck in the school due to the protest.
"We were allowed to leave when our parents came to collect us," she added.
CM Sukhu to set up panel
Amid the protests against the illegal construction of the mosque, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, on September 9, assured that his government will constitute a committee to frame a street vendors' policy and to issue licences only after their verification.
The CM, on the concluding day of the 11-day monsoon session of the Himachal assembly, said either a cabinet sub-committee or a vidhan sabha committee will be constituted to address this issue since Congress and BJP were equally responsible for maintaining communal harmony in the state.
He said the state had a history of various communities co-existing peacefully, but action will be taken as per law in case of any illegal activity.