BIDAR: Four people have been arrested for forcefully entering the Mahmud Gawan Madrasa premises in Bidar and intending to outrage religious feelings.
The incident took place during the wee hours on Thursday when a group of Hindus holding a procession entered the Madrasa premises allegedly by breaking open the locked gate and offering Pooja there.
Following this the police booked an FIR under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), read with 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offense committed in the prosecution of common object).
While Muslim leaders say that the incident has happened for the first time, Hindu leaders declare that the Pooja has been taking place every year.
“This had never happened before. Yesterday they forcefully entered the premises and offered Pooja at the wall and shouted slogans which usually the BJP and RSS workers shout,” Abdul Mannan Seth told Deccan Chronicle.
“Earlier they used to offer Pooja to the Banyan tree near the Madrasa. The tree died about 13 years ago and there has been no Pooja there since then,” he added.The Muslims who came to know about this were angry and protested demanding the arrest of those involved in this incident.
However, right-wing leaders claim that the Pooja has been taking place every year.
“Every year during Vijaya Dashami, the Goddess is taken in a palanquin in a procession. This has been taking place for centuries. The route map of the procession and the places where pooja is offered is given to the police officials. The place which they claim as Madrasa is an ASI-protected site. Pooja is offered every year in this place too. Muslims too agree to this,” BJP Kalaburagi Vibhag Saha Prabhari Ishwar Singh Thakur said.
“As usual the procession went to the place. But miscreants had locked the gate. We want to know who locked the gate,” he said.
“Bidar is a peaceful place. We have asked the Home Minister to have a detailed probe as to who had tried to create the problem by locking the premises where pooja is offered every year. Also, the case filed against the devotees should be withdrawn immediately,” Thakur demanded.
The four arrested in the case were granted bail.
