Policemen stood by as silent spectators as the crowd went berserk and damaged the gate of the Jama Masjid
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A video of a huge crowd attacking the Jama Masjid of Rajapur town in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district during the celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi has gone viral sparking outrage on social media.
Maulana Luqman, a resident of the town, confirmed the attack on the mosque on Wednesday night.
He told Clarion India over the phone that the hooligans attacked the mosque as Muslims were offering Taraweeh (special night prayers in Ramadan) inside. The mob was celebrating the initial rituals of the Holi festival and they carried a pillar-like object throughout the area.
“When they reached the mosque, the mob tried to break into the mosque They were trying to bring the pillar inside the mosque to create communal tension,” said Luqman.
Earlier in the day, residents of the area had already approached the police urging them to protect the mosque and the worshippers during the celebrations. But, he said, only a few policemen were deployed, who could not handle the huge crowd.
“The incident has created a tense atmosphere in the town. An FIR was registered,” he said.
The viral video shows the Holi revellers making boisterous noises and shouting slogans near the mosque. Some of them tried to gatecrash into the mosque but were pushed back. After a while, some persons shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans started thrusting the pillar-like object at the mosque gate. After three attempts, they were able to penetrate the gate. The video also shows policemen standing by as silent spectators as the crowd went berserk and damaged the mosque gate.
Sharing the video clip, a non-government organisation (NGO), Mumbai Brotherhood Foundation, demanded strict action from the Maharashtra government against the culprits. The organisation also urged authorities to provide ample protection to the mosque during Holi festivities.
Social media users also slammed the Devendra Fadnavis government for allowing the miscreants to disturb the peace.
“Maharashtra is soon turning into UP with Fadnavis as the CM and HM. BJP Govt thrives on communal politics. Rajapur is a very peaceful town in Kokan. Hindus and Muslims have always been together but with Junior Rane being elected from this place and now cabinet minister, the peaceful town is being destroyed with communal violence. Maharashtra didn’t elect BJP EVMs did. We need a new govt to restore peace. BJP will destroy Maharashtra,” said Priyamwada, a member of the Indian National Congress, on X.