Namaz observed at Gurugram site under police eye

Over 500 Muslim worshippers offered the Friday prayers under the watchful eyes of Gurugram police at the vacant plot in Sector 43 where a group of miscreants had created ruckus last week and prevented people from offering Namaz.

The district administration had taken preventive measures and two police vehicles were deputed at the site to check any untoward incident.

However, half-an-hour after the crowd of worshippers dispersed from the site, a group of about 25 people from Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Hindu Kranti Dal, gathered at the site and held a protest against the arrest of six youth in connection with last week’s incident.

“We had gone to the site to lodge a protest.We are not against our Muslim brothers but prayers should be offered at the mosque or the administration should designate sites,” said Braham Prakash, Gurugram district president, Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He said a meeting has been called at Kamla Nehru park on Monday morning to discuss the issue and submit a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram.

The demands will include release of six youth and designation of specific sites for Friday prayers, Prakash said.

Prior to the protest, around 500 men offered prayers peacefully at the spot. “We are thankful to the police and district administration for arresting the six accused who had threatened the gathering on April 20 and prevented them from offering namaz.

However, after the prayers a group of people came at the site and it seems there are still some issues,” said Haji Shehzad Khan, who had lodged the police complaint.

Gurugram has around 6-7 lakh Muslims who have migrated largely from UP, Bihar and West Bengal, the community members said. “There have been minor incidents like these before. Police should probe it,” said Khan.

Inspector Arvind Kumar, SHO, Sector 43 police station, said they had ensured that prayers were held peacefully and there was no untoward incident at the site.