Gurugram: In the early hours of Monday, a group of unidentified men allegedly set fire to a mazar in a village in Gurugram, as reported by the police.
The mazar, visited by both Muslims and Hindus, had some prayer material burnt before local residents managed to bring the fire under control.
The incident occurred during a time when prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were in place in Gurugram due to communal clashes that had taken place in the neighboring Nuh district and spread to parts of the city and nearby areas. However, on Monday, the Gurugram district administration lifted the Section 144.
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According to the caretaker, Ghasite Ram, who hails from the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, everything was normal at the shrine in Khandsa village when he left for home at 8:30 pm on Sunday. However, around 01:30 am, he received a phone call informing him about the fire at the shrine. He immediately rushed back and found offerings inside the mazar burnt. He stated that a group of 5-6 young boys seemed to be behind the incident.
The mazar, dedicated to a “peer baba,” has been a place where people of all religions offer their respects. It has pictures of Hindu deities on its inner and outer walls, along with the Om and Swastik symbols.
The incident has hurt the sentiments of the people and raised concerns about potential riots in society.
An FIR has been registered against unknown persons under various sections of the IPC. The police are working to identify the accused and make arrests.
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Additionally, an eatery (dhaba) near Rathiwas village was set on fire on Saturday night, leading to the registration of an FIR at the Bilaspur police station. In Sohna, 15 people accused of violence were arrested on Sunday night and sent to judicial custody.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation of communal tensions in the region. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing, and efforts are being made to ensure peace and security for all residents.
