By RINA
New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority has demolished some parts of the four hundred year old historic Dibiya wali Mosque located at the Andheria Mor just opposite the Kisan Haat in the Mahrauli area of the city here yesterday. This has hurt the sentiments of Muslims of the area. During this condemnable act the protestors pelted stones at the police as well as the officials of the Delhi Development Authority. Sensing trouble the Stationed House Officer of the Mahrauli Police Station along with other police officials reached the spot.
According to the reports available with the RINA at around four in the evening yesterday a team of nearly half a dozen officials of the Delhi Development Authority carrying a JCB machine and other instruments reached the Dibiya Wali Mosque. A huge contingent of Delhi Police also came along with the team of Delhi Development Authority. As soon as the team reached the Dibiya Wali Mosque it began demolishing the main ceiling and walls of the Mosque. Some of respected members of the society requested the DDA to stop the demolition which was started without notice. However, the DDA Staff paid no heed to it.
A mosque in Delhi [TCN photo]
The protestors started pelting stones at the staff of the Delhi Development Authority as well as the Delhi Police. In retaliation the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob. This led to tension in the area. In the meanwhile traffic jam occurred on both sides. It must be recalled that during the reign of former Prime Minister late Vishwanath Pratap Singh also the move to offer prayers at the Dibiya Wali Mosque was opposed. Afterwards this case reached the Delhi High Court. At that point of time the Court ordered to maintain the status quo of Mosque. The Chairman of Delhi Wakf Board Chaudhary Mateen Ahmad told RINA that he would soon speak to the officers of Delhi Development Authority on this issue.
Mr. Mateen Ahmad revealed that it is an ancient Mosque whose records are mentioned in the Board Gazette. Therefore, the DDA need not interfere in its affairs. According to the Imam of the Dibiya Wali Mosque Maulana Tahir Qasmi when the local people resisted the move by the DDA to demolish the Mosque they roughed up by the police. The President of the Supervisory Committee of Mosque Maulana Mohammad Talha has termed this demolition by the DDA absolutely illegal. One of the officials of the Delhi Development Authority Neemudhar maintains that this demolition derive was conducted to remove the illegal encroachment in the Mosque and it is absolutely wrong to give it a communal colour.