Radical Islam and internal security

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Amrish Baagri | Dehradun

pioneer.com

District administration reverted from its earlier stand to remove the idols of Hindu deity placed adjoining to a Muslim shrine in Indirapuram locality here and on Tuesday allowed the locals to re-install the idols after members of both communities agreed to have temple and Muslim shrine side-by-side.



Earlier, district administration in association with a huge contingent of police force had raged the recently installed idols of ‘Shani Dev’.



The demolition of temple was followed by strong protest by local Hindus. Police had even resorted to cane charge in late Monday evening injuring many locals including women. Giving a reason for its demolition drive, the district administration had said that the idols were removed as they were installed without a mandatory prior-permission from district administration in this regard.



Asked about the demolition drive, DM had maintained that the recently installed idols have the potential to result in communal fracas. These were installed against the provisions of district administration rules and entitled to be removed.



On Tuesday morning, Hindu locals gathered in large number at the site where idols were placed and sat on protest demanding action against those responsible for removing the idols and asked administration to re-install them immediately otherwise they resort to mass agitation.



The district administration was in fix as one community was pressing to re-install the idols while the other was against this move saying that the land where idols were placed, actually belongs to Muslim Shrine, which is being worshiped by the Muslims and as well the Hindus.



[color="#FF0000"]Initially, members of Muslim Community pressed that the land belongs to Muslin Shrine and no temple would let be allowed to come up here[/color].



However, in the later part of the day, better sense prevailed on the incensed people and with intervention of senior citizens from both communities. A Meeting was organised in which senior citizens and political representatives participated and after much deliberation, they agreed to have the temple and the Muslim shrine side by side. A sense of communal comradeire prevailed when some of sensible Muslim even came forward with donation for the installation of idols of Hindu deity and Hindus agreed to limit the walls of temple leaving enough space for Muslim shrine.



The matter has, however, sorted out but a group of locals demanded that a criminal case should be registered against the police officer and the Sub Divisional Magistrate, who had raged the idols without taking the locals into confidence.