The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about rising intolerance in the region
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a recent incident in Prakasha village in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district, a Hindutva man disrupted the azaan (Islamic call to prayer) at a local mosque. The individual, described as a far-right Hindutva supporter, entered the mosque during the azaan and demanded that the loudspeaker be turned off.
When the muezzin (the person who calls to prayer) refused, the man allegedly harassed him, according to reports.
CCTV footage circulating on social media shows the saffron-clad man entering the mosque and confronting the muezzin. Other worshippers intervened, attempting to defuse the situation and escorting the muezzin away from the altercation.
The suspect, identified as a resident, was reportedly conducting a program nearby when he entered the mosque upon hearing the azaan. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about rising intolerance in the region.
Nandurbar Superintendent of Police Shravan Datt stated that authorities are aware of the incident and will take necessary action if a formal complaint is filed, reports The Siasat Daily.
The incident is part of a broader context of tensions surrounding the use of loudspeakers for the azaan in Maharashtra. In April 2022, Raj Thackeray, leader of a regional Hindu party, demanded that mosques and other places of worship adhere to allowed noise limits.
Earlier in May 2022, two men were booked in Mumbai for sounding the azaan through loudspeakers, allegedly violating noise regulations.
These incidents highlight ongoing debates and conflicts over religious practices and noise pollution in the region.