Tension in south Kashmir after desecration of mosques

Srinagar, Jan 7 (UNI) Tension continued to prevail in Shangus area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir today after miscreants allegedly tried to set ablaze a 200-year-old mosque on Friday night, the third such attack on religious places within three days.

The alleged incidents of desecration have triggered massive protests and the area continued to observe complete shutdown for the third successive day today.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 and a job for information leading to the arrest of culprits.

Sources said a group of locals found some miscreants allegedly trying to set on fire a 200-year-old mosque at Wakilbalan in Nowgam area of the district on Friday night.

The residents rushed to douse the blaze and catch the culprits, but they escaped under the cover of darkness. The furnishings of the mosque were reportedly damaged in the fire.

The agitated locals later took to streets to protest the mysterious attacks on religious places.

This was the third incident of alleged desecration of a mosque in Shangus area within three days since Wednesday night.

The locals had earlier staged a demonstration at Shangus after a girl allegedly found torn pieces of the Holy Quran outside a public urinal in the village. The miscreants also allegedly desecrated mosques in Keeri Watrasoo and Pathribal villages.

Angry protestors shouted slogans against the administration, accusing it of failure to arrest the miscreants responsible for the acts of sacrilege.

Police had detained 20 people for questioning and also raided several places in the district in connection with the desecration.

Of the detained, 17 were later released after questioning.

Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, G A Peer and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Abdul Ghani Mir rushed to the spot and pacified the agitated locals by promising swift action against those involved in the acts of sacrilege. The Deputy Commissioner said the state government has formed a high-level team to investigate the matter.

The alleged desecration evoked severe condemnation from different political, social and religious organisations.

The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, the Jamaat-e-Islami, the Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Awami Action Committee of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other parties have condemned the alleged desecration as the ''worst and heinous acts'' which have offended the religious sentiments of the Muslims.

Terming the incidents as part of a ''deep-rooted conspiracy'', these organisations have demanded immediate arrest of all the culprits involved in the acts of sacrilege.

UNI