Express News Service
CHANDIGARH: The Gurugram Police on Friday detained at least 30 people, including representatives of Hindu outfits and locals, for protesting against Muslims praying in a public place. This was the sixth week of such protest.
The detained people were taken in preventive custody and were kept at Bajghera police station. Due to the protests, security was beefed up at all the places wherever the Muslim community was offering prayers.A few of the protestors were holding up placards which read “Gurugram administration, wake up from your sleep ’’ and were seen shouting, “band karo, band karo.’’
Police sources said the protesters also included locals who shouted slogans at Sector 12-A. “When they tried to create a ruckus and disturb the namaz, around 30 of them were taken in preventive custody and kept at Bajghera police station,” said a police officer.
“We have been trying to persuade the Muslims to offer prayers at some 37 designated places in the city where full protection will be given to them,’’ said an official. The protestors led by a man identified as Kulbhushan Bhardwaj had Thursday given a memorandum to the local administration conveying objection to allowing the prayers.
Sources said the administration has identified 37 sites, including places at Sector 47 and Sector 12-A where Muslims are allowed to offer prayers. These sites were chosen following talks between Hindu and Muslims representatives in the wake of similar events in 2018.
Sub Divisional Magistrate of Gurgaon Ankita Choudhary said, “There were some people from other group who were trying to stop them. So we asked them not to create nuisance and disrupt law and order. When they didn’t listen to the police even after repeated warnings, they were detained just to maintain order,’ she said. They were detained as a precautionary measure, she added. Asked who were those who had been detained, she said investigation was on.
