Agra: Authorities in Agra are on alert after religious texts were found burned inside a mosque in the city’s Trans Yamuna Colony Thursday, sparking concerns in the mixed-population neighbourhood.
Police said worshippers who came to offer namaz in the morning discovered the arson with burned scraps of religious texts lying on the floor.
They alerted the mosque’s imam who was sleeping upstairs and wasn’t aware of the incident.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident. CCTV footage from the mosque, known as Teesri Masjid, and nearby areas was collected for review and a police team has been assigned to probe the matter.
Hemant Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Chhatta Circle, told ThePrint that a small gas cylinder from the mosque’s kitchen was also reported stolen.
“Religious texts have been found burnt, but this appears to be unconnected to the theft,” Kumar said.
Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad Chairman Sami Aghai told ThePrint that Islam Nagar in Agra’s Tedi Bagiya locality had a predominantly Muslim population, but was also home to about 30 or 35 Hindu families.
The area has several mosques to cater to this large Muslim population. Teesri Masjid’s doors are open 24 hours and anyone can walk in at any time.
Aghai said the incident could not be attributed to theft and police were trying to simplify the issue.
According to him, it “appears to be a devious attempt to disrupt the peace and brotherhood that has existed in the city among Hindus and Muslims for decades”.
He urged police to probe the incidents which, according to him, could have been “orchestrated by anti-national elements”.
He said a Muslim delegation would meet the police commissioner soon and demand a deeper investigation into the incident.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
The authorities must investigate whether this mosque in question has been built over a temple. In case it has been, the administration must take immediate steps to demolish it.