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Begum Bazaar mosque demolition halted by Wakf
Reacting to the reports about the demolition of large portions of a mosque in Begum Bazaar on Monday, the AP State Wakf Board (APSWB) sprung into action to stop the illegal activity.
HYDERABAD: Reacting to the reports about the demolition of large portions of a mosque in Begum Bazaar on Monday, the AP State Wakf Board (APSWB) sprung into action to stop the illegal activity.
According to sources from the APSWB, the mosque, Masjid-e-Munawwari, belongs to the Mehdavis, adherents of one of the many sects of Islam. The first floor of the two-storey mosque has been completely demolished on the instructions of the mutawalli (manager). Razing of other portions was on the cards, the sources claimed.
APSWB special officer (SO) MJ Akbar rushed to the scene after locals informed him of the demolition. Curiously, while Badrudduja Munawwari, who claims to be the mutawalli (manager), says that he intended to renovate the mosque, APSWB officials said that only Friday prayers were held there as the number of worshippers from the Mehdavi community in the area was too few. "Munawwari himself admitted that their numbers are very little. However, we are ascertaining if his claims about the said renovation are true or not. More importantly, his working in the capacity of a mutawalli has not been ratified by the board," a source requesting anonymity said.
Board officials said that while the land parcel on which the mosque was constructed, according to the AP Gazette 19-A, published on May 19, 1985, is 169 square yards, the mosque has been constructed on a much smaller area.
"It seems that the shops have been constructed on a part of the mosque lands. There is a possibility that wakf land has been sold. An inquiry will be conducted to check whether this is true," the source said.
When contacted, SO Akbar said, "An FIR has been registered at the Shah Inayat Gunj police station. We have requested police to probe all angles."
A case under sections 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 447 (trespassing) and 427 (causing mischief) was booked against Munawwari.
