By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Police resorted to lathicharge on Muslims while they were protesting against the desecration of Ayesha Mosque in Charbagh area here on Tuesday. Later in a damage control exercise state government suspended the erring SHO to pacify the Muslims.
Ayesha Mosque is situated in Charbagh with one Bajpayee Hotel adjacent to its wall. As per reports, the Masjid committee was constructing a side wall of the masjid which was objected by the Bajpayee Hotel owner. The matter reached local court which restrained the committee from further constructing the wall but allowed finishing work.
On Tuesday, the masjid committee was busy in finishing the wall when the Bajpayee Hotel moved court stating that they are constructing the wall. The court directed the local police to take stock of the situation while ordered that a commission be sent to get the ground reality.
SHO, Naka Hindola, Mr Sarang Dwivedi reached Ayesha Mosque and misbehaved with the Imam Maulana Hifzur Rehman Nadwi. The SHO also allegedly desecrated the mosque by entering the premises wearing shoes. This infuriated the Muslims who started assembling at the masjid. On the other hand, Bajpayee Hotel owner too managed sizeable crowd in his support.
Imam, Aishbagh Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahli also reached the scene and soon the crowd spilled over busy Lucknow-Kanpur Road blocking the traffic. Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. This further worsened the situation as the news spread like wildfire across the city.
Thereafter the matter was taken up at high level and DIG Mr DK Thakur ordered suspension of SHO Naka Sarang Mr. Dwivedi. He has been replaced by Vimal Srivastava. The action pacified the Muslims and they returned.
“We will obey court’s directive and the matter is subjudiced. Our main demand was action against guilty police official which is done, so there is no more issue,” said Farangi Mahli. Police force has been deputed in the area to maintain peace.