Masjid Khaja Mahmood in Hyderabad was demolished amid heavy police presence. After protests by residents and Muslim leaders, the the mosque will be constructed at the same site.
Muhammad Raafi | TwoCircles.net
New Delhi — Masjid Khaja Mahmood demolished by the municipal authorities at Shamsabad in Hyderabad on August 2 has stoked a major controversy, with one Muslim leader claiming that it was the sixth mosque demolished in the state in the last six years.
Masjid Khaja Mahmood was demolished amid heavy police presence. Soon after the demolition, the local Muslim residents and leaders held a strong protest and demanded that the mosque be constructed at the same site.
According to Majilis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjedullah Khan, who reached the spot soon after learning about the demolition, a court case was underway after a local resident filed a petition in the local court contesting the legality of the mosque. “Sir, may I know the reasons for the demolition of Masjid-e-Khaja Mahmood in Green Avenue Colony by @mcshamshabad in which five times prayers were being performed daily since last two years,” Khan later tweeted tagging the Ranga Reddy district collector and Shamshabad municipality.
Khan said that the TRS government headed by KCR has been following in the footsteps of the BJP’s Yogi government. He alleged since the TRS party came to power in 2014, six Masjid’s were demolished in Telangana.
Masjid-e-Khaja-Mehmood was constructed three years ago after the residents purchased 15 acres of land and “got due permission” from the Shamshad Gram Panchayat. However, a resident, whose house is beside the mosque, complained to the Shamshad Municipal authorities about the construction of the mosque.
The residents told TwoCircles.net that the case was still in court and “the municipal authorities, by demolishing the Masjid had hurt the religious sentiments.”
Khalida Parveen, a social activist told TwoCircles.net that the municipal authorities came in the dead of the night around 3 a.m, bolted other neighborhoods, and demolished the mosque. “In the morning the residents were shocked to see the mosque razed to the ground.”
She said that on the next morning many people assembled outside the premises of the demolished mosque and held a massive protest demonstration against the authorities. She said the residents were demanding that the mosque be reconstructed at the same place.
On Friday, Kausar Mohiuddin, a member of the Telengana Assembly, along with leaders of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) accompanied by locals offered Friday prayers at the site of the mosque.
Prior to the congregational prayers, leaders of the Congress, Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), Tehreek Muslimeem Shabban, and other groups were “unofficially kept under house arrest” by the Hyderabad police.
After the prayers, Mohiuddin addressed the faithful and said that the government allowed the reconstruction of the mosque. He claimed that AIMIM President and Member Parliament from Hyderabad, Assaduddin Owaisi had written a representation to the state government after which the government permitted the reconstruction of the mosque.
AIMIM’s local leaders also staged a sit-in at the municipal office. They demanded action against the officials responsible for the demolition and immediate reconstruction of the mosque.
Police arrested the protesters who were led by AIMIM in charge of Rajendra Nagar Assembly constituency, Mirza Rahmath Baig.
Police took 11 people into preventive custody, reports said. They were later released.
Committee to oversee legality of the case
Following strong protests by the local residents, the Municipal Administration department formed a three-member committee that visited the site of the mosque. After the visit of the committee members, Mohiuddin said the government will not create hurdles in the reconstruction of the mosque.
During the committee’s visit to the site, the management of the mosque handed over all documents relating to the approval for the construction of the mosque to the officials.
Khan also questioned the silence of Muslim organizations and politicians on the issue.
Muhammad Raafi is a journalist based in New Delhi. He covers politics and human rights. He tweets at @MohammadRaafi