Karnataka: Mob breaks into heritage madrasa in Bidar on Dussehra, performs puja

Bengaluru, Oct 07: A group participating in a Dussehra procession allegedly broke into premises of a heritage madrasa in Bidar district of Karnataka. In a video circulation on social media, the members of the mob can be seen shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Hindu Dharam Jai' slogans and also performed a puja in a corner of the building.

Additional SP Mahesh Meghannavar told the media that the situation is under control.

Karnataka | Bidar police booked nine people for allegedly trespassing into Mahmud Gawan madrasa, a heritage site & performing puja during Dasara festivities yesterday; Members of Muslim community staged a protest

The situation is under control: Additional SP Mahesh Meghannavar pic.twitter.com/8Gw68IpRrg

— ANI (@ANI) October 7, 2022

After videos of the incidents surfaced on social media, some reports suggested that nine persons have been held, but the police have not confirmed the arrests.

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi took to his Twitter account after the incident and slammed the Basavraj Bommai-led government in Karnataka over the incident saying 'BJP promotes such incidents to demean Muslims.'

A tweet by the AIMIM chief read, "Visuals from historic Mahmud Gawan masjid & madrasa, Bidar, #Karnataka (5th October). Extremists broke the gate lock & attempted to desecrate. @bidar_police. @BSBommai how can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims."

Visuals from historic Mahmud Gawan masjid & madrasa, Bidar, #Karnataka (5th October). Extremists broke the gate lock & attempted to desecrate. @bidar_police @BSBommai how can you allow this to happen? BJP is promoting such activity only to demean Muslims pic.twitter.com/WDw1Gd1b93

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 6, 2022

The Mahmud Gawan Madrasa in Bidar was built in the 1460s and is listed under the monuments of national importance.