Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 11: In a clear case of ploy to heighten communal tensions, the body a beheaded pig and its flesh, were found to have been thrown on the floor of a moque in Angaragundi area near Suratkal on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday February 10. The policemen of Panambur police station, who swung into action, arrested one person. They have been hunting for the two other accused.
The arrested has been identified as Pushparaj (30) from Katipalla. Reportedly, the arrested man and two others wanted to place the carcass of a pig in a mosque in Suratkal, knowing fully well that the Muslims believe the meat of pigs has been forbidden by the Lord. Because of the police vigil, they shifted their operation to Baikampady area.
Deputy superintendent of police (DySP), Girish, said that the arrested person has confessed during questioning, that he planned the desecration of a place of worship of the Muslims, as a revenge for an earlier desecration of a Hindu prayer centre. Girish opined, that the miscreants wanted to whip up communal passions and give rise to tensions in the area.
After the policemen received complaint about finding the body parts of the forbidden animal in the mosque, they rushed to the spot and disposed the skull and flesh found there. When the people wanted to stage a protest, the DySP succeeded in persuading them to abandon the plan. He promised that the culprits would be caught and the disturbing developments noticed since a few days would be curtailed. The protestors expressed their unhappiness about the failure of the policemen in finding out the perpetrators of such crimes that have been occurring in Suratkal area at regular intervals.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 that have already been in place in the area have been extended, and the businessmen have been asked to down the shutters by 8 pm. Girish said that police forces have been kept in readiness to tackle any eventuality.
President of the governing council of the mosque and chairman of Karnataka State Mionorities Corporation, B Abubakker, has condemned the incident. He termed the incident as a plot to create communal tensions. He added that he has discussed the issue with the state home minister, Dr V S Acharya, who held talks with the police commissioner, Gopal Hosur. Abubakker in the meantime, has requested the people to remain peaceful. A delegation of Muslim Cental Committee, headed by Mohammed Masood, visited the mosque and asked the concerned to exercise restraint.