GURUGRAM: MCG has sealed 11 buildings , including an unauthorised structure which was being used as a makeshift prayer hall by Muslims , within the 300-metre radius of the ammunition depot in Sheetla Mata Colony — the colony where a MCG district town planner was attacked during a demolition drive on May 10.Constructed three years ago, the structure was being used by the Muslim community to offer Friday prayers but on September 6, some residents complained about the use of loudspeakers during prayers and alleged that the structure had been built illegally. The next day, representatives of the Muslim community met the deputy commissioner (DC) to discuss the matter but no solutions had been found.Samshad Khan, owner of the building, said, “I bought this plot four years ago. It took one year to build the structure and Friday prayers have been offered here for the past three years. Initially, there was only one hall in the ground floor but later we constructed two more floors. Currently, there are three floors in the building, including three halls, one on each floor, and one room to house the Imam.” The 87-square-yard land was bought under the power of attorney, he added.The owner said that the authorities knew that Friday prayers were being offered at his house. “We informed MCG that prayers would be held in this building, every Friday. Till some weeks ago, they had no objections. I have no clue why they have raised an objection now,” he said.MCG officials on Wednesday said that they didn’t just seal the prayer hall but 10 other structures as well. In a tweet, MCG said that a total of 11 structures within 300 metres of the ammunition depot had been sealed, adding that construction had been going on at a few sites, despite repeated directions to the contrary. Initially, area within the 900-metre radius of the IAF ammunition depot in Sector 14 was deemed to be a restricted zone but the state government later reduced it to 300 metres.A senior MCG official told TOI, “If a structure is within 300 metres of the ammunition depot, we don’t need to give any notice to seal it. Earlier, officials had done a recce of the buildings to be sealed. This is not a mosque but simply, a building.” The official added that in the coming days, they would also look into why such a building came up in the first place and who gave the permission for the same.

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