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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, Jan 2: In an apparent sequel to last year’s violent clashes between two sects of Sunni Muslims – Barelvi and Deobandis – tension again reached a flashpoint in Dahisar east on Friday.
The trouble erupted in Madrasae-Arabiya’s evening prayers when a Barelvi Muslim objected to a worshipper getting up abruptly after the Maghrib prayer. According to senior police officers, Barelvis don’t approve of Deobandis’ practice of leaving the place of prayers immediately after the completion of the prayers.
The objection led to an argument and then to fight between the two Muslim groups. Some youths from both the community drew choppers and swords and attacked each other. In the process, a Deobandi youth, Imtiyaz alias Babloo Ahmed was stabbed on chest while five others were injured.
Dahisar police, who were alerted, intervened and 18 people including four Deobandis and 14 Barelvis detained. The detained have been charged with rioting and attempt to murder. A police posse has been posted outside themasjid to avert any more such incidents.
Madrasae-Arabiya located Western-Eastern Highway has always been into vortex of struggle between the two communities, each of whom want to control the religious school (Madrasa) and the masjid trust. While the control of the masjid is with the Barelvi community, a Deobandi Muslim is the trustee of the trust.
The police said, the trust and funds supplied to the masjid has been the bone of contention between the two communities since last several years.The police suspect that it could be the issue of supremacy and exercising control over the masjid which snowballed into clashes between the Barelvis and the Deobandis.
Last year in Ramazan, the two communities had a fight over a trivial issue of sighting of moon which resulted in the death of two Deobandi youths. The top leaders of both the communities are trying to work towards a truce between the warring Muslim communities.
