Maintain peace: HC to Delhi Police

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court directed the city police on Monday to ensure peace in the sensitive Aliganj area near Qanati Masjid in south Delhi in view of the Chehllum procession which will be taken out by the Shia community on Tuesday. "The SHO of Lodhi Colony police station is directed to ensure peace in the area," the court said.Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw also allowed the mosque managementto install a "temporary pardah" at the site while hearing a contempt petitionfiled by B K Dutt Residents' Welfare Association (RWA) against the police, NDMCand Wakf Board. In their contempt petition, the residents said the court had in2005 directed the civic agency to remove illegal constructions around QanatiMasjid and demarcate the area. But some people started building structures nearthe mosque and offering prayers on the government land, the residents alleged.The residents opposed the NDMC's letter to the mosque management, permitting itto renovate the wall without the court's permission. During the last hearing,the HC had asked the NDMC to submit its work plan for repair of the mosque byJanuary 24.