After Churches, its mosques under attack in Karantaka: More of this as elections approach?

Mail Today
18 March 2008

Karnataka mosque vandalised

By Sowmya Aji in Bangalore

AFTER vandalism in churches shamed Karnataka’s coastal districts in September 2008, a mosque in the state’s Udupi district was attacked late on Sunday.

On Monday, when devotees went to the Jumma mosque at Madikal village near Uppunda in Baindur to offer their morning prayers, they found the mosque’s lock broken.

When they entered the mosque’s premises, they were horrified to find everything strewn around and even the Quran thrown away.

The mosque’s managing committee president Nizam said: “ As no Muslims live near the mosque, we came to know about the attack only when we arrived in the morning. The place reeked of kerosene,” he said.

The mosque management filed a complaint with the local police stating that the mosque’s lock was broken and all things inside were strewn around. The mosque’s furniture was broken and the blades of ceiling fans twisted. The complaint added that the Quran was thrown away too.

The mosque’s management didn’t name anybody as suspect for the vandalism. But the incident was similar to the vandalism of churches — allegedly by Hindutva activists — last year.

There was tension in the region but the police controlled the situation and prevented any probable riots.

Meanwhile, the charge of Karnataka’s moral brigade continued without respite in the region.

On Tuesday Section 144 was imposed and four people were arrested in Puttur after clashes between two communities.

Tension started when some students were forced off a bus and allegedly beaten for sitting together.

The students — Vishal, Rohan, Viswas, Zeena and Kavya — were returning from Puttur to Mangalore, where they study in a training institute.

When they were taken to a police station, a crowd gathered and a war of words resulted in a clash and lathi charge.

Shops and vehicles were stoned and damaged, but the police said the situation was under control.

On Monday, a couple watching a movie at Mangalore’s Central Talkies barely escaped being attacked by Sri Rama Sene activists.

The police escorted them out of the theatre after receiving information that the Sene planned to “ question” the couple, suspecting they were from different communities.

sowmya.aji@mailtoday.in