Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 20: Uppinangady Central Jumma Masjid president, Mustafa Kempi, said that a protest meeting will be held in front of Uppinangady Central Masjid at 11 am on January 21 in protest against the attack on Karaya mosque near Uppinangady. It will be held under the aegis of Muslim United Committee, he added.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that this was the first ever incident in Dakshina Kannada district where miscreants had entered the mosque and attacked it. 'Muslims will be expressing their shock and anguish at this attack through the protest meeting,' he explained.

He blamed organizers of Virat Hindu Hridaya Sangama for inciting people to commit this crime. He claimed that over 500 attackers had manhandled the Ustad and ten children at the mosque.

In another press conference held here on Monday, Hindu Hridaya Sangama organizing committee president, Dr M K Prasad Bhandary, said that thousands of people had peacefully reached their homes after the conclusion of the programme. 'The incident at Karaya occurred because stones were pelted at vehicles carrying those who were peacefully returning after attending the programme at Puttur. This was done with the specific purpose of bringing disrepute to the Sangama programme,' he alleged.

He demanded for action against the management of the said mosque for providing accommodation to those who threw stones from inside the mosque. He also urged the concerned to find out those who were responsible for torching four shops in Uppinangady and surrounding places on Saturday night.