Tension in Aligarh over mosque repair work
ALIGARH: Security in some sensitive localities in the old city area here has been beefed up with deployment of RAF, after tension between two communities over repair work at a mosque here on Friday night. A police official said on Saturday that the two sides exchanged brick bats at Phoolwala crossing under Kotwali police station area on Friday night. The police had to use mild force to restore order, the official said. The trouble began when a shopkeeper from one community objected to the installation of a new minaret to replace a damaged one.
ALIGARH: Security in some sensitive localities in the old city area here has been beefed up with deployment of RAF, after tension between two communities over repair work at a mosque here on Friday night.
A police official said on Saturday that the two sides exchanged brick bats at Phoolwala crossing under Kotwali police station area on Friday night.
The police had to use mild force to restore order, the official said.
The trouble began when a shopkeeper from one community objected to the installation of a new minaret to replace a damaged one.
According to reports, there is a very old mosque in the most sensitive area here, the Phoolwala crossing. Construction work was in progress on its third floor to replace the minaret, which also covered a portion of the shopcum-residence of jeweller Raj Kumar . The shopkeeper argued the new minaret was larger than the original one and this could obstruct any future construction by him. Soon, a large number of people of both communities gathered there and started pelting stones. Some also resorted to firing. However, cops pushed them back. Later, the mosque committee agreed to install a smaller minaret after the authorities intervened.
However, rumours started that the mosque was going to be demolished after senior district BJP leaders arrived on the spot. Again a large crowd rushed there from Upper Koat, raising religious slogans and also made an attempt to burn a jewellery shop.
Slogans were also raised by the other group. The crowd coming from Upper Koat also started firing . Police resorted to firing tear gas shells and also fired in the air to quell the mob.
Some people photographed the removal of the dome from such an angle that it gave the impression as if the mosque was being demolished and they posted the pictures on social sites which soon became viral. However, SSP Rajesh Pandey said the situation “is well under control” but police are taking no chances.
Rapid Action Force had been deployed in the area and the dispute over the minaret had been resolved, he added.
Meanwhile, a senior district official is reported to have asked the members of the mosque committee as to how repair work at a place of worship was undertaken “without official permission.”