By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Jammu: Tension gripped Jammu after a group of miscreants shouted provocative slogans outside the mosque while people were offering “Taraweeh” prayers on Thursday, June 15.
The slogans came from youth on bikes outside Ustad Mohallah mosque after the India cricket team’s win over Bangladesh in Champions Trophy semi final match on Thursday.
“We were offering Taraweeh and suddenly there were loud slogans coming from outside. They were abusing us and asking us to come outside. Our people exercised maximum restraint, otherwise it could have turned into a major incident,” Abrar Ahmed, a resident of Ustad Mohallah told TwoCircles.net .
Later, a group of people from the minority community went to police station Pacca Danga to register the complaint, but their pleas remained unheard as no officer was present on the duty.
“There was no one in the police station apart from few who were sleeping,” said Abrar.
The following morning, the delegation visited Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu with the grievances. After non satisfactory attitude of district administration, the people held a protest.
On Friday, June 16, the people from the minority community took out a protest march against the harassment and distributing the peace between different communities. While seeking legal action against the troublemakers, the protesters said, “They are trying to vitiate the peaceful environment of Jammu. They haven’t got any other issue, so they are doing it in the guise of a cricket match. We have no problem whatever slogans they shout against any country, but why target minorities?”
“It is aimed to frighten us,” said another resident Mohd Taki.
Jammu Muslim Front (JMF) has strongly condemned the silence of administration and police with regard to the incident.
“The police have failed nabbing these elements who are hell bent to disturb communal harmony. They can’t force minorities to remain under fear with their Jingoism ,”said Imran Qazi of JMF.
The senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani condemned the incident and termed it as a harassment on one pretext or the other.
Geelani while extending his support to the minorities living in Jammu said, “We will do whatever is possible and won’t leave Muslim community in Jammu at the mercy of these fanatical forces”
Meanwhile after the protests, the police officials have assured the protestors to provide security outside the mosque and install a CCTV camera so as to ensure on repetition of such incidents.