On 13 November, a disturbing incident unfolded at the Kanifnath Mandir in the Rahuri region of Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar. Hindu devotees, including women and the pujari, were violently attacked by a group of Islamists identified as Raju Sheikh, Rajjak Sattar, Nasir, Ibrahim, and 40 others. The assault occurred while the devotees were performing Bhajans to celebrate Diwali. A viral video captured the Islamists physically assaulting Hindus, including women engaged in religious activities.
Islamist mob attacks pujari & devotees of Kanifnath Mandir
The incident is alleged to be linked to a dispute over land, with the Hindu community saying it is a case of land jihad. According to local journalist Babulal Rathore, the violence transpired at an ancient religious site in Guha village, known to Hindus as the Samadhi of Saint Kanifnath Maharaj. However, Muslims in the area assert it to be the Dargah of the Pir, with claims that the land is reserved for the Waqf Board.
Tensions had reportedly been escalating for about a year, starting when some members of the Muslim community removed saffron clothes from the Samadhi and replaced them with a green sheet. The assault on 13 November occurred during the Deepavali Amavasya festivities, where Hindus had organized Kirtan-Bhajan and Bhandara at the Kanifnath Mandir site.
Around 40 individuals from the Muslim community, led by Raju Dagu Shaikh, Razzaq Dagu Shaikh, Sattar Bashir Shaikh, Nasir Fatu Shaikh, and Ibrahim Ismail Shaikh, entered the prayer place armed with sticks and rods, attacking those engaged in Kirtan and Bhajan, including women and children. The police, upon being informed, reached the scene, prompting the attackers to flee. The pujari, Shankar Kishan Majre, along with other devotees, sustained injuries.
A viral video captured the assailants hitting Hindu devotees and even slapping women participating in the Bhajans. Shockingly, the crowd can be heard urging violence, saying ‘kill him’ while assaulting the priest in saffron attire, adding a disturbing dimension to the incident.
Upon being informed, the police promptly arrived at the scene, causing the accused to flee. The police initiated an investigation, and medical examinations were conducted on the victims. Subsequently, the Hindu community learned about the incident, leading to their gathering at the location to demand strict action against the perpetrators. Protests erupted at Rahuri police station on Monday (13 November), with hundreds demanding strict action against the perpetrators.
The police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by Hindus, with an FIR naming 62 accused persons. Sections 324, 143, 147, 148, 149, 323, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, have been invoked. Ten individuals have been arrested so far, based on the complaint filed by Pujari Shankar Manjre, and investigations are ongoing. In the meanwhile, the police issued a statement urging people to remain calm while assuring them of delivering justice.
Waqf Board claims Kanifnath Mandir land
According to Rishikesh Bangre, a Hindu organization worker, the dispute is part of a larger plot by Muslims to seize approximately 40 bighas of land at the Samadhi site of Sant Kanifnath Maharaj, exacerbating a decade-long disagreement over the religious site’s ownership.
The root of the conflict lies in the illegal claim by the Waqf Board, which encroached upon the 40-acre land of the 400-year-old Sant Kanifnath Samadhi Mandir, designating it as the Dargah of the Pir. Allegedly, they not only seized the land but also removed any mention of the Kanifnath Samadhi Temple from official documents. Tensions escalated about a year ago when members of the Muslim community reportedly replaced saffron clothes on the Samadhi of Saint Kanifnath with a green sheet. This incident has since fueled ongoing tensions at the location. Hindus had protested against the illegal takeover of their holy site and even undertook a fast unto death.
(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)
