Muslims in Bareilly are caught in a violent internecine feud over control of the Masjid Qutubkhana, an 80-year-old edifice in the heart of town. .
Followers of the Deobandi and Barelvi sects, both unique to Islam in India, who refuse to acknowledge the other as ‘Muslim’, have laid claim to the mosque at a prime location in the city, with a sprawling courtyard and shops on its premises.
Tension simmers in Bareilly after two violent clashes last week. The local administration has barred both sects from performing prayers in the mosque. A large contingent of the Provincial Armed Constabulary has been deployed across the city as a precaution . A committee of senior officers has been constituted to assess the situation and decide in the next fortnight on who will control the mosque.
The followers of the two sects have meanwhile also taken their fight to social media platforms like Facebook and Watsapp groups.
The dispute started with the appointment of an Imam after the last imam, Imtiyaz, was arrested on charges of sodomy on May 25. Imtiyaz belonged to the Deobandi school as did all the priests of the mosque for last 30 years. The Deobandis allege that the arrest of Imtiyaz was a conspiracy hatched by the Barelvis to take over the mosque.
After the arrest of Imtiyaz last Monday, the Barelvi group did try to take over the mosque which was strongly resisted by the Deobandis, resulting in stone pelting and violent clashes.
Making a strong statement to claim the mosque, thousands of Barelvis marched to the Kotwali police station on Saturday. The protesters claimed that the Masjid Qutubkhana is registered with Sunni Central Board of Wakfs in Lucknow and belonged to them.
