In what can be described as yet another instance of radicalism being preferred to public health, Amar Ujala has reported a shocking incident from Bhogaon in the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh.
According to this report, a Muslim mob gathered to offer Namaz at a Mosque in Bhogaon in Mainpuri on Wednesday despite the Coronavirus outbreak and a nationwide lockdown.
At a time when the entire nation is trying to break the chain of the novel Wuhan infection, and all temples in India have been closed for darshan even during the ongoing Navaratri, the mob still wanted to gather in large numbers for offering Namaz.
The police reached the spot in order to prevent a mass gathering for offering Namaz that could have easily become a hotbed for the Coronavirus to take grip of the Mosque in which it was being offered. However, instead of accepting the request of the police to avoid gathering for a mass Namaz, the mob attacked the police personnel.
In fact, as soon as police station in charge, Inspector Pahup Singh reached the Mosque, the mob became confrontational. When he asked for the doors of the Mosque to be opened, the mob started agitating and despite repeated attempts the police was not allowed to enter.
An ensuing scuffle broke out as the mobs attacked the police, and back up forces had to be requisitioned in order to diffuse the tense situation outside the Mosque. The police somehow diffused tensions and Inspector Pahup Singh asked people to offer Namaz from their homes, instead of coming into close contact with each other at the local Mosque.
In fact, there has been a pattern of Namaz being still offered in the state despite clear advisories and even lockdowns requiring people to offer Namaz from their homes.
Recently, there were reports about large gatherings offering namaz in Mosques across West UP despite a clear pitch for social distancing from the local administration as well as Prime Minister Modi.
FIR against 15-20 people, including cleric, for gathering at mosque in UP's Bahraich to offer namaz in violation of lockdown orders: Police. #Lockdown21 #Covid_19
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 26, 2020
But it seems that there is no reduction in such incidents. The case of Mainpuri Mosque is not a standalone incident. Another mass namaz was offered in Bahraich, and now it has been reported that an FIR has been registered against 15-20 people, including cleric for offering the Namaz in violation of the lockdown. The administration will thus have to closely monitor the situation as radical elements continue to defy the lockdown by organising large namaz gatherings.
