Mosque desecration triggers tension

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR, AUG. 13. Tension prevailed in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan today following desecration of a mosque in Pander village, 78 km. from the district headquarters, by some unidentified miscreants. A portion of the mosque was damaged.

This is the second major incident of destructive activity in a mosque in the district within a fortnight. On July 27, a 16th Century mosque in Asind was demolished by a mob. Reconstruction of that mosque continues to defy solution.

The incident in Pander reportedly occurred around 2 a.m. today when the Imam of the mosque was sleeping in his room. A few young men allegedly forced their way into the mosque and damaged the ``mimbar'' - the stage where the Imam stands - and burnt the prayer mats. They also burnt an almirah in which some papers and religious books were kept.

This is the lone mosque in Pander, where Muslims have a negligible percentage in the population of 3,000. The mosque was built a few years ago and there was no dispute either about its location or status. The Imam, Mr. Abdul Qayoom, had come to the village to join the mosque only about 10 days ago.

In his complaint lodged at the Pander police station, the Imam stated that though he had woken up on hearing the noise at the mosque, he fled fearing for his life. When he came back this morning, he saw the ``pillage and plunder''.

Police have registered an FIR and launched a massive hunt for the culprits. The Bhilwara District Collector, Mr. C.P. Vyas, and the Superintendent of Police, Mr. H.C. Bhagat, rushed to the village and were camping in the nearby Jahazpur town until late tonight.

The Muslim community in Jahazpur, agitated over the incident, went in a procession to submit a memorandum to the District Collector demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot, reviewed the situation in and around Pander at a high-level meeting here in Jaipur this afternoon.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Governor reviews situation, to send report
Next     : Former tennis player killed