M A I N   N E W S

Rival claims over mosque site
From Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Jan 18 — Divergent claims are being made over the demolished structure at Dhaliwal allegedly by activists of the Shiv Sena. While Sena activists claim that a cowshed existed there and no prayers had been offered for a long period, the Muslims maintain that there was an old mosque in a dilapidated condition.

According to Mr Atiq-ur-Rehman, the state president of the Indian Muslim Council, the demolished structure was a mosque of pre-partition days. Because of poor maintenance the mosque was in a dilapidated condition. But he asserted that Friday prayers were regularly offered there. He said, Id prayers were also offered on December 28. He pointed out that the land belonged to the Waqf Board and it was mentioned in the revenue records.

On the other hand, the Shiv Sainiks have been arguing that the structure which existed there was not a mosque but only a “cowshed”. Mr Rohit Mengi, the block president of the Shiv Sena, who was arrested by the police on the night of January 14 after the alleged demolition, told TNS on the telephone from Dhaliwal that there was no mosque at the disputed site. However, he also agreed that the property belonged to the Waqf Board.

Narrating the incidents which took place on January 14, Mr Mengi claimed that he was attending “a religious gettogether” organised by the local vice-president of the Shiv Sena, Mr Pawan Tandon, whose house is adjacent to the disputed site. Mr Mengi claimed, since the place was quite close to the Tandon’s house the family decided to hold “the religious gettogether” in the vacant space. He said, they had no plan of constructing a temple there and the Shiva Linga placed there was only for the “religious gettogether”. He clarified that neither a temple existed there nor was there any such proposal.

But the local Muslims, who are camping here since yesterday, alleged that the Shiva Linga was installed after the “mosque” was demolished. They maintained that the Shiv Sainiks had already started the construction of a temple which was stopped after the local administration swung into action and arrested seven Shiv Sainiks, including Mr Mengi.

Following the arrest of the Shiv Sainiks, the town observed a bandh and demanded their release. They were released on bail and are expected to appear before the court on January 25 again.

Mr Mengi alleged that the issue was deliberately being blown out of proportion allegedly at the behest of a Maulvi who had come from Badaun in Uttar Pradesh. He demanded that the police should verify his credentials as nothing was known about his exact whereabouts. He alleged that it was the same Maulvi who “stagemanaged” prayers on Id day at the disputed site to establish the claim that there was a mosque.

Despite repeated attempts, the Deputy Commissioner and the Senior Superintendent of Police could not be contacted. While the DC was said to be out of station, the SSP was not available.

Meanwhile the local administration, according to the SDM, Mr T.K. Goyal, has deployed adequate police personnel at the disputed site. He refused to make any comment on the alleged demolition, but maintained that the situation was under control and the representatives of both communities were being taken into confidence for creating a congenial atmosphere. He added that the local administration had sought documents from both groups in support of their claims.