Maharashtra: Explosion in Beed mosque, two arrested

According to the FIR, a procession was organised in Beed’s Ardhamasla Saturday evening in which people from all communities participated. However, around 9.30 pm, the two suspects arrived at the spot and started making communal remarks, the FIR said. They also raised questions over the construction of the mosque and tried to incite communal tension. But the situation was soon brought under control.

In the early hours of Sunday, police were informed that the two had placed gelatin sticks inside the mosque and caused the explosion.

“We received a call from the sarpanch informing us that an explosion had occurred in the mosque. We arrived at the scene, controlled the situation, recorded the complainant’s statement, and registered a case, after which the two suspects were arrested,” Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kavat told reporters.

He urged the people to remain calm and maintain peace.

Earlier, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Nagpur that those behind the blast had been identified. “Those involved in this have been identified. The Beed SP will provide information on this,” he said.

Authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the explosion. Bomb detection and forensic teams have gathered evidence from the site.

A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said, “Gavhane has lived near the mosque all his life. On occasions, his father would also go and clean the mosque. The incident has shocked everyone because everyone in the village knows each other and has friendly relations.”

“We believe that the incident is a result of Gavhane’s ego and angry temperament. We have learned that he had a fight with someone a day earlier, which led him to seek Sagde’s help, enter the mosque and lay the gelatin sticks,” the officer said.

When asked about the procurement of the explosives, police said Gavhane was involved in work related to digging wells and breaking mountains. This gave him access to gelatin sticks, they said, adding that he had kept some in his possession.