Several persons were injured as supporters of the noted Shia cleric and Imam-i-Juma of Lucknow’s Asafi Mosque, Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, were lathi-charged by the police near the Shahid Smarak after “Alvida” prayers here on Friday. The cleric along with 50 of his supporters was later detained by the police. They were marching towards the residence of Minority Welfare and Waqf Minister Mohammad Azam Khan for staging a dharna in protest against the corruption in the Shia Central Board of Waqfs and the alleged official patronage to some influential persons.
While, the Maulana’s supporters claimed that a resident of Muftiganj, Karrar Husain, died as a result of the lathi-charge, the death has not been officially confirmed.
Mr. Khan is in his home town of Rampur and is expected to return to Lucknow after Id-ul-Fitr, which is likely to be celebrated on July 29. Alleging that the lathi-charge was at Mr. Khan’s behest, the Maulana has demanded the Minister’s arrest. Accusing the Samajwadi Party Government of deceiving the Muslims, he said the agitation against the regime would continue.
Pitched battle
A pitched battle was fought as the protesters tried to break the barricade and resorted to heavy brick-batting and the police used force to disperse the mob. Some policemen were also injured in the street fight which lasted for about an hour. The scene next to the Kargil Park near the Shahid Smarak presented a depressing sight with slippers and torn clothes strewn all over the place. The injured have been admitted to the local hospital.
The march and a dharna at Mr. Khan’s residence on Vikramaditya Marg after “Alvida” (last Friday of Ramzan) prayers were announced by the cleric a couple of days back. Following the “namaz”, hundreds of Shias gathered outside the mosque, which is situated in the famed Asafi Imambara of the Old city, raising anti-SP Government and anti-Azam Khan slogans. The march led by the Maulana and other Shia clerics was stopped by the heavy deployment of police near the Shahid Smarak. Mr. Khan’s residence on Vikramaditya Marg, about 4 km from Shahid Smarak, was also heavily barricaded. Some Shia youth who managed to reach Vikramaditya Marg were chased away by the police.
Ongoing dispute
Friday’s incident is said to be the fallout of the ongoing dispute over the control of the Shia Waqf Board. The Maulana is opposed to the dominance exercised by a rival group of Shias, which is alleged to be close to Mr. Khan. Elections for the office-bearers of the Board were due to be held in June but were postponed till August.
Addressing the gathering after he staged a sit in at the site, the Maulana alleged that Mr. Khan wanted to install a team of corrupt persons in the Shia Waqf Board. He said the Minister wants to punish the entire Shia community for his dispute with the Nawab of Rampur (Kazim Ali Khan ), who is also a Shia Muslim.
