Members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) Friday staged a protest in Gulbarga accusing the police of failing to take severe action against miscreants who vandalised a masjid and burnt copies of the Quran in Tadtegnoor.
On the night of December 22, miscreants barged into a masjid in Tadtegnoor, a village 25 km away from Gulbarga, vandalised its premises and burnt the copies of the Quran. The incident came to light the next morning when people came to the masjid to offer their pre-dawn prayers.
The police registered a case against three people but arrested only one accused. However, the accused was released on bail within four days of his arrest. The other two are reported to be absconding. The police have been accused of filing cases under ‘weaker’ sections.
Shahid Naseer, Popular Front State Treasurer said desecrating the Quran is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims and is something that can incite passions. He said the issue should have been death seriously by the police. He said, the accused was booked under sections 457, 380, 427, and 295, which he said were weak and then let off on bail.
He said the police should have booked the accused under section 153A and 295A, which is used to punish people promoting enmity between different groups and outrage religious feelings.
Naseer said after getting released, the accused has been boasting about the act on social media, setting an example for others to follow.
PFI has demanded the accused be booked under stricter and appropriate sections and asked for a thorough investigation into the incident.
