The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Anantapur News : Row over rights for prayers at IdgahPolice prevent one group from entering venue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Row over rights for prayers at IdgahPolice prevent one group from entering venue

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, JAN. 21. Bakrid prayers assumed political colour in the district headquarters today as the police prevented leaders of one section of the community from entering Idgah grounds for leading the mass prayer under the pretext that they had threat from the rival group and their entry might end up in a law and order problem.

A fresh controversy was raked up by an order issued by the Andhra Pradesh Wakf Tribunal on January 17 on a petition moved by the Muthawalli of Jamia mosque, K.M. Safiullah, and the Naib Muthawalli, K.M. Shakeel Shafi, preventing their rival group from participating in the mass prayer at Idgah.

Police were deployed in large numbers at the Idgah grounds and on way to the place since morning to prevent any untoward incident, keeping in view the differences between the two groups.

Meanwhile, the rival group led by Imam Shareef and M.A. Majeed secured a court vacation of the injunction issued by the Wakf Tribunal with the help of the local Congress MLA.

The Imam Shareef group reached Idgah grounds in advance and the police led by the DSP, M. Vijaykumar, prevented Mr. Shakeel Shafi and others from entering the grounds.

Tense moments

Tense moments prevailed at the Idgah grounds till one group was sent away by the police. The Muthawalli group alleged that the ruling party MLA was planning to divide the community to get benefited in the forthcoming municipal elections.

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