Pune: Maulana Arrested after people gather for Friday Namaz outside Masjid in Kasarwadi
Pimpri, April 25, 2020: A 36-year-old Maulana (Muslim priest) has been arrested for violating lockdown rule by allowing people outside a mosque in Kasarwadi on Friday afternoon.
According to FIR registered with Bhosari police station under Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate, the incident took place around 1 pm at Bilal Masjid in Kasarwadi. Police said that many people had gathered for prayers.
Police have arrested Maulana Yusuf Jabbar Shaikh for violating the government orders about lockdown and ban on assembly of more than four persons to contain COVID19 and allowing people to gather at the masjid.
Police have also charged him for offences under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Diseases Act.
DCP Smita Patil told Punekarnews.in, “We had taken meeting also and all religious places are closed. There is a narrow lane outside the masjid. As he (Maulana) was standing there, more than 30 people had gathered. He should have asked them to go away. We filed a case and arrested him. Later he was released on bail.”
There are many Coronavirus positive patients in Kasarwadi and the whole area had been sealed after declaring containment zone. Now all areas under Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) have been declared as containment zone as number of Coronavirus positive patients are increasing.
