10 arrested for assaulting people inside mosque at Haryana village

Sonipat Police Commissioner B Satheesh Balan after visiting the affected village said that a group of men barged into the mosque, beat up the people, including children, who were offering namaz. “It was unprovoked. No such dispute or tension was reported in the village earlier. There are only 15-20 families (of the affected community). The police immediately reached the spot. The villagers also cooperated. I want to make it clear that the police will take stern action in such cases,” Balan said.

The injured lodged a complaint against 19 people and 18 were named, a police officer said.

Eyewitnesses said people were performing Ramzan prayers at the mosque when they were attacked unprovoked, and at least six of them received injuries.

“Even children and women were not spared by the group who were armed with hockey sticks and swords. Some of the injured have been admitted to Sonipat government hospital,” said one of the injured.

Another victim said there was no previous enmity or provocation for the incident. “The assailants belong to the same village and they were drunk. They not only attacked us but also damaged the mosque property,” he said.

“Policemen were present in the village the entire night. There are over 30 families from our community in the village,” said a member of the minority community.

A villager Raj Singh said: “The youngsters who went to the mosque were drunk. We are fully cooperating in maintaining the peace.”

Saleem Khan, one of the injured, said: “The attackers assaulted my nephew with a sword. He has been admitted to neighbouring BPS Government Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan (Sonipat). We want peace in the village.”