Over 200 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal chanted slogans and tried to enter the Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna in Karnataka on Saturday, 4 June, as part of the Srirangapatna Chalo campaign, demanding that the Jamia mosque be returned to Hindus claiming that it was a Hanuman temple razed by the 18th-century ruler Tipu Sultan. The police stopped them from entering the mosque.
Ahead of the march, Section 144 CrPC was imposed in the town in Mandya district. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have also been imposed from 6 pm on Friday till 12 am on Sunday.
The activists, who were wearing saffron scarves, turbans and waving saffron flags, raised Jai Shri Ram slogans. They also recited 'Hanuman Chalisa' and 'Ram Bhajan' at a nearby temple. However, no untoward incidents were reported from the town.
Deputy Commissioner of Mandya district S Aswathi visited Srirangapatna on Friday to take stock of the situation in the historic town, where ban orders were imposed to ensure law and order in the wake of the Hindutva group's plans to 'lay siege' to the Jamia Masjid on Saturday.
Over 500 Police Personnel Deployed, Four Check Posts Installed
Over 500 police personnel have been deployed across the town and along the route of the proposed march and four check posts have been installed.
Deputy Commissioner Aswathi S noted that the weekly market, that is usually held on Saturday, was postponed. Liquor sale was banned within a five kilometre-radius of Srirangapatna.
“Prohibitory orders were imposed by the taluk administration and there is no permission for rallies/processions/protests in Srirangapatna town panchayat limits today. In view of this order we've ensured adequate bandobast in and around the town so that no untoward incident takes place,” he told ANI.
He stated that leaders have been briefed regarding the prohibitory orders and any violation will be met with strict legal action.
The masjid has been closed and CCTV cameras have been installed.
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Friday said, "No one is allowed to take the law into their hands at any cost." He added that 'any organisation has the right to present its claims peacefully and democratically.'
Following multiple appeals from the mosque authorities to protect the Jamia mosque from Hindu activists, district authorities have beefed up security in the area.
Meanwhile, Sriram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik condemned the ruling BJP government for imposing restrictions in the town.
"There is a Ganapati temple, a temple tank and a well inside the mosque. Despite all these, mosques running Madrassas and offering namaz there is wrong. It is 'they' who should be stopped. They should be thrown out. I condemn the BJP government which is trying to stop our protest," Muthalik told reporters in Kalaburagi on Saturday.
Despite No Permission, Hindu Outfits To Go On with Procession
A few Hindu activists had earlier submitted a memorandum to the district administration urging them to conduct verification of the masjid along the lines of the Gyanvapi mosque.
The Jamia mosque is also called Masjid-i-Ala and is located inside the Srirangapatna fort.
The fringe group 'Narendra Modi Vichar Manch' (NMVM), claimed that the Masjid-e-Ala was actually 'Moodala Bagilu Anjaneya Swami temple', and sought permission to worship there. They alleged that Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan had allegedly demolished the temple and built a mosque over it.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India, Persian inscriptions on the mosque say Tipu Sultan was the builder of this mosque, called Masjid-e-Ala, in 1782 AD.
The Hindu outfits have planned to take out a march from Kuvempu Circle in the town to Jamia Masjid seeking permission to perform puja. They have also urged to suspend the madrasa functioning there.
Despite being denied the permission, the VHP and Bajarang Dal leaders who are at the forefront of the movement have maintained that they are going ahead with their programme.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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