Srinagar: A government forces officer has been removed from duty after a patrol party allegedly forced Muslims at a Pulwama mosque to raise “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” slogans, reported NDTV.
Quoting unidentified sources, NDTV reported that the officer has been removed from duty amid criticism on social media platforms. The alleged incident took place at Zadoora village in Pulwama district on Saturday morning. So far, the army or the police have not issued any official statement on the matter.
Three former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers — Ghulam Nabi Azad, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti — are among the prominent leaders from the Valley who have demanded a probe into the allegations.
Officials told NDTV that senior officers visited the village and assured people that the matter is being investigated and necessary action will be taken.
Several villagers have also alleged that the personnel beat them up before forcing them to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. The villagers say the incident happened early on Saturday when the muezzin gave the call for morning prayers from the mosque. In the middle of azaan, they alleged, the muezzin was stopped and forced with other villagers to raise slogans.
“The only thing which has been established is that people outside mosque were asked to raise Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans,” a senior officer told NDTV. The officer leading the patrol party has been shifted out of the area and removed from operational duty, the officer said.
Mainstream leaders from the Valley have reacted strongly to the serious allegations.
Mufti, former CM, tweeted: “Shocked to hear about army troops from 50 RR storming into a mosque at Pulwama & forcing Muslims inside to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’. Such a move when
@AmitShah is here and that too ahead of yatra is simply an act of provocation.”
“Reports of security force personnel entering a mosque in Zadoora in Pulwama are deeply distressing. It’s bad enough they entered but then forcing people to chant slogans like ‘Jai Shree Ram’ as reported by the locals there, is unacceptable. I hope @rajnathsingh ji will issue instructions for these reports to be investigated in a timely & transparent manner,” Abdullah, National Conference leader, tweeted.
Sajad Lone, former MLA and chief of Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, said the incident is “very very scary”.
“The incident at Zadoora Pulwama is highly condemnable. And at the same time – very very scary. The drift seems to have gone too far. Hoping against hope that the administration will do what it takes to ensure that such incidents never take place again. What a sad state of affairs though,” he tweeted.
