Tense situation as locals in Dharavi stop BMC from razing 'illegal' portion of mosque

Mumbai: After hundreds of locals blocked a road to protest the Mumbai civic body's proposal to demolish an allegedly illegal portion of a mosque, tensions escalated in the slum colony of Dharavi on Saturday morning, according to an official.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Dharavi police station and sat on the road after some residents prevented municipal officials from entering the lane where the mosque is located, PTI reported.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed there to prevent any untoward incident in view of the prevailing situation, he said. "A team of BMC officials from G-North administrative ward reached 90 Feet Road in Dharavi around 9 am to demolish the alleged illegal portion of Mehboob-E-Subhani masjid. Soon, a large number of local residents gathered at the spot and stopped the civic officials from entering the lane where the mosque is located," the police official said. "Later, hundreds of people also assembled outside the Dharavi police station located there and squatted on the road to protest against the civic body's move," he said.

Heavy police 'bandobast' has been deployed and the situation is under control, the official said. A delegation from the mosque, BMC officials and Dharavi police are currently holding talks to resolve the issue, he added.

Dharavi, a densely-populated colony, is considered Asia's largest slum.