Friday prayers in mosques across Bangalore had religious heads appealing for peace and harmony in the city, in the wake of thousands of people from the northeast leaving Bangalore, shaken by rumours of violence targeting them.
The afternoon prayers in the mosque at Shivajinagar — the last Friday prayer during Ramzan and attended by over a thousand — had an appeal being made after juma khutbah (sermon) and before the start of the namaz.
“There was an appeal not to heed rumours. There was also an appeal to reassure and help anyone who is panicking and leaving the city,” said Rafeeq Ahmed, who attended the prayers. Similar announcements were made in mosques in Fraser Town and Shantinagar.
N.A. Haris, MLA, said there were also voluntary groups going around localities where people from the northeast are in large numbers as a confidence-building measure.
