Mosque vandalised with beer bottles, copies of Quran desecrated in Jalalpur village of Bommalaramaram mandal

Hyderabad: Worshippers at the Jama Masjid in Telangana’s Yadadiri Bhuvanagiri district, on Monday, February 16, were shocked to see their mosque vandalised and copies of the Quran desecrated.

The mosque is situated in Jalalpur village of Bommalaramaram Mandal. The previous night, at around midnight, some individuals entered the place of worship, damaged the walls, window panes, washroom doors and the mic system. Several copies of the Quran were scattered around the premises.

Empty beer and whisky bottles were also found. The Jama Masjid located in Jalalpur village of Bommalaramaram mandal in Telangana

Condemning the incident, Muslim Federation of India (MFI) and Freedom Party's Telangana State Working President Telangana Committee President Md Rahail Ahmed demanded that police protect places of worship and ensure law and order in and around the Masjid, Temple and Churches in and around Bommalaramaram mandal Buvanagiri District.  

Minorities leader and Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesperson Amjed Ullah Khan demanded that the police file a criminal case and initiate a thorough investigation at the earliest.

Khan said the local Hindus have constantly objected to the mosque ever since it was first constructed in 2018.

There are three neighbouring villages – Bandakadipally, Thumukunta and Jalalpur – which have a history of communal instances. “Before 2018, the Muslim community in these villages did not have a place to pray. They tried building a mosque in Bandakadipally and Thumukunta, but the local Hindus strongly objected. In 2018, the Jama Masjid mosque was constructed in Jalalpur village,” he said.

Khan said even after its construction, the mosque authorities, especially the imam, have faced constant trouble. “Last year in May, a jamaat (congregation) had visited. This did not go well with the locals and they pressured the police to send them back,” he alleged.

“These people have objections to everything. They do not want the azaan announced on the loudspeaker,” he said.

The MBT leader also claimed that the police wiped out potential evidence that could lead them to the culprits.

The Bommalaramaram Police, an officer downplayed the communal angle, stating only beer bottles were thrown inside the premises and that the mosque has since “been cleaned.”

A first information report (FIR) has been registered against unknown persons under sections 331(4) (punishment for house trespass or house breaking), 329(4) (criminal trespass or house trespass), 298 (injuring or defiling place of worhsip), 324(4) (mischief) and 196 (promoting enemity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of worship etc) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha (BNS).