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Hindu, Muslim clash for offering namaz at disputed place

Rampur: In Dohriya village of Thana Malikarea a violent clash broke out between two communities for offering ‘namaz’ at a disputed place in which heavy stone pelting took place. The police had to resort to lathicharge and open fire to dispurse the crowd.

According to sources, Muslims previously used to offer namaz inside their house but this time they obtained a written permission from the district police authorities for offering namaz in congregation. Thereafter they started regularly offering namaz. However, people belonging to the other community objected to this and pressurised Muslims to discontinue with the practice. Some responsible people tried to solve the problem peacefully at the village panchayat. Some people however did not attend the panchayat meeting. As Muslims were preparing for the next namaz these people started stone pelting. When Muslims remained busy in prayers, they subsequently fired few shots which led to a stampede. The indiscriminate firing also forced many families to desert the village and flee to other safer places. Notably the incident took place in the presence of two policemen who were already posted in the village. The policemen did nothing to dissuade the mob from attacking Muslims while they were offering namaz and opened fired in their presence.

The Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has been posted in the village following the incident. Police has recovered pistols from the former village pradhan, Dharam Pal and nine others. Tension is still prevailing in the village and even more grave incidents cannot be ruled out. 

MG News Desk