How Sikh community rushed to rescue of Sohna mosque residents

A mob allegedly attacked the mosque on Tuesday. Police said an FIR has been registered against unknown persons. Action was taken when locals informed them about the incident, said the police.

Imam Kaleem, who lives in the mosque with his four brothers and their families, recounted the horror faced by him and 30 others.

“We were all scared but the police had conducted a flag march and announced that there was no fresh violence in the area. We were relieved for some time and resumed work. Around 2.45 pm, we heard gunshots. When I came out of the mosque, a mob was running towards us with sticks, lathis, weapons and guns in hand,” said the Imam.

As per the Imam and other locals, the mob allegedly broke into the mosque and vandalised it.

On Wednesday, The Indian Express found broken furniture, damaged cars, torn books and glass shards lying all around the area. A group of policemen is now guarding the mosque. One of them, who refused to be named, claimed the police and members of Sikh community came within 10 minutes.

The Imam along with 30 others, including children, managed to hide in the residential quarters of the premises. “We had lost all hope. I told my brother to escort all the women and children behind the mosque. They (the mob) were almost near our room when the locals came and helped,” he added.

One of the locals who helped them was Guddu Singh (25), a student in Palwal. “We had received panic calls from locals around the Sohna masjid about the attack. There were children there. We decided to intervene… There were only 10-12 policemen while the gathering outside the mosque was in hundreds,” he said.

As the mob continued breaking things inside the mosque, the locals went towards the residential quarters adjacent to the mosque building; they first rescued women and children.

“There were many kids and teenagers. Our men picked the kids up and rushed them towards vans,” said Singh.

Village head Gurcharan Singh also helped with the rescue.

He said, “We don’t like to meddle in any matter and cause harm to any community or the society. But we had to intervene because the lives of many were at stake. Our men saved everyone in time. The Imam and his brothers, who were hiding in a small room, were also rescued. The room was near a parking space where the mob was breaking window panes of cars…”

Naveen Sindhu, ACP (Sohna) told The Indian Express on Tuesday, “There were people inside the mosque, but no one got hurt. The police were soon informed and rushed to the spot. The accused fled.”