MBT condemns damage to century-old Dargah in Shamshabad, alleges police inaction
Hyderabad: Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) spokesman Amjed Ullah Khan on 29 October condemned the alleged Shamshabad Dargah damage, in which the boundary wall and iron mesh of a more than 100-year-old shrine were reportedly broken. The shrine is Dargah Hazrat Syed Ibrahim Sha Qadri Hussaini at Saath Amrai in Shamshabad. He alleged that 20–25 persons associated with the BJP/RSS obstructed repair work and damaged the newly repaired portions in the presence of Shamshabad Police.
Dargah Mutawalli Mohammed Yousuf Qadri said the Urs-e-Shareef is approaching and that the repairs aimed to restore the damaged boundary wall and iron mesh. He said rainwater had begun entering the premises after a bridge was built in the area. This caused concern about the condition of the site. According to him, some local residents objected to the repair work on the previous day. He then received a call to Shamshabad Police Station, where he was allegedly told to stop the repairs.
He resumed the work early on Thursday morning. A group of about 20–25 persons then allegedly arrived at the site and stopped the work. They allegedly damaged the newly repaired portions and the existing boundary wall and iron mesh. The group also allegedly raised “Jai Siya Ram” slogans and threatened the Mutawalli.
Police inaction alleged at the Dargah
Khan alleged that the incident took place in the presence of police personnel, who failed to prevent the damage. He further alleged that the police threatened the Mutawalli against carrying out any work at the Dargah, instead of protecting the religious institution and its property. The source carries no response from the police or from the accused persons.
Khan said he rushed to the spot on learning of the incident. He informed Telangana State Wakf Board Chairman Azmath Ullah Hussaini and CEO Asad Ullah. Khan urged them to submit a written complaint to Shamshabad Police immediately. He also asked them to restore the damaged wall and mesh, protect the Dargah and ensure that the Urs-e-Shareef is conducted peacefully.
Khan alleges 53 incidents under Congress rule
Khan expressed serious concern over what he described as continuing insecurity among Muslims and their religious institutions in Telangana. These include masjids, dargahs, chillas and aashoorkhanas. He claimed that 53 incidents of attacks on Muslims or damage to Muslim religious institutions have occurred since the Congress government came to power under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. In his allegation, the Telangana Police failed to take effective preventive action in these cases.
“There appears to be mob rule in Telangana instead of the rule of law,” he said. Communal tension, attacks on religious institutions and cases filed against Muslims, he alleged, had created an atmosphere of insecurity.
Khan demanded that the Telangana government and senior police officials take immediate cognisance of the Shamshabad Dargah damage. Moreover, he sought appropriate cases against those responsible and an impartial investigation. He further asked for action against any police personnel found to have neglected their duties or facilitated the damage.
He also demanded adequate police protection for the Dargah and immediate restoration of its damaged boundary wall and iron mesh. Arrangements to keep rainwater out of the premises after the bridge construction were another demand. Khan emphasised that no individual or group should be allowed to take the law into their own hands or obstruct the lawful maintenance of a religious institution. Finally, he urged the Wakf Board, the Police Department and the state government to act promptly to protect the Dargah and uphold the rule of law.
