During a Ganesh immersion procession, organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, in Sirguppa of Bellary, Karnataka, on Saturday, an alleged member of the VHP hurled his slipper towards the mosque, which was recorded by nearby cameras. A large number of Hindu devotees took part in the procession.
The video sparked wide condemnation, which shows a processioner hurling his slipper at the Soudagar Sunni Masjid of Sirguppa, while passing through the mosque.
#Bellary ; In Siruguppa, during the Ganapati discharge procession, slipper directly thrown on Soudhagar Masjid.@zoo_bear @alishan_jafri @SharjeelUsmani @RanaAyyub pic.twitter.com/bdHZrL2PD2— Hate Watch Karnataka. (@Hatewatchkarnat) September 11, 2022
In a press statement, the Bellary Superintendent of Police Saiduladavat said that an FIR has been registered against the accused following a complaint. “We have arrested five miscreants who did this. Further, we will produce them in court,” he said.
The accused have been booked under IPC Sections 153 (a) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 109 (Punishment of abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (Rioting), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 505(2) (Statements conducing to public mischief), 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in the prosecution of common object), the Siasat Daily reported.
According to the locals, the accused Nitish Kumar is a member of the extreme right VHP and was accompanied by several from the fringe.
Police personnel were deployed in the area to maintain peace and control the situation.
