Kondhwa: Pune Police Register FIR Against 25 People For Organising A Meeting Over Israel-Palestine Conflict
Mubarak Ansari
Kondhwa, 21st May 2021: An FIR has been registered by Pune city police against 25 persons including local politicians and social activists for organising a meeting by Kul Jamaat-e-Tanzeem, an umbrella body of Muslim organisations, over the Israel-Palestine conflict in Kondhwa on May 18. No arrest has been made in the case yet.
Based on the complaint from a policeman- Nizam Mughal of the Local Intelligence Branch (LIB), Kondhwa police station has booked corporator Haji Gafur Pathan (40), former corporator Raees Sundke (38), Haji Feroze Sheikh (42) (whose wife is corporator), Mujib Patel (35), Usman Hiroli (41), social worker Salim Mulla (46), Feroz Sheikh (38) Maulana Qari Idris (72) of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Shoheb Qari Idris (32), Maulana Nizamuddin (43), Mohmand Qais (38) (President of Popular Front of India (PFI) Pune), all residents of Kondhwa, Chand-Tara Friend Circle Group President- Shoheb Shaikh of Mominpura, Ilias Sheikh (38) of Camp and 10 to 12 other people.
According to police, the incident took place between 8.30 pm to 9.15 pm on May 18, at KGN Hall next to Hotel RC Kitchen in the Kausarbaug area of Kondhwa. The Maharashtra state government has banned all programs including religious as well as political with the backdrop COVID-19 pandemic.
The FIR states that “The meeting was organized by Mujib Patel and Ilias Sheikh on behalf of Kul Jamaat-e-Tanzeem. It was organised to show solidarity with the people of Palestine and to condemn the Israeli attack on people at Masjid al-Aqsa (Bayt al-Maqdis) and other areas. It was discussed that those present at the meeting should go to their nearest mosque and offer prayers for the victims of the attack, while also expressing their sympathy for them. Furthermore, all Muslims should stand behind the citizens of Palestine. Conversations were held to impose a boycott on as many Israeli items as possible along with that, a memorandum was to be prepared in this regard and it was discussed to give it to the District Collector, Pune. A total of 20 to 25 people were present during this period.
Maulana Qari Idris said that it was a discussion over issues concerning a large number of Palestinian people who have been affected by Israeli aggression, especially in Gaza. “Pune Police have targeted us solely, even though several other meetings were held earlier”, Idris said.
According to the police officials, an investigation is being led and further action will be taken in the imminent days.
The FIR has been registered for offences under section 188, 269, 270 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, Maharashtra Police Act, Disaster Management Act, and Maharashtra COVID19 Regulations 2020.
