BHOPAL, 2 August — Authorities say they have managed to defuse a tense situation in Asind town in Rajasthan, 200 km from here, following the demolition of an ancient mosque and the installation of an idol at the site.
After a marathon five-hour discussion between leaders of the Hindu and Muslim communities, authorities managed to persuade the former to remove an idol which was installed surreptitiously at the site.
The state government has described the situation in Asind as being "under control" and said that a large police force has been deployed as a precautionary measure.
Trouble had erupted in the town on Friday when a 300-strong mob demolished the 16th century mosque built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and installed the idol in its place.
The mosque has always existed near the vicinity of the Sawai Bhoj temple. The Sawai Bhoj authorities have assured the state government that they would not conduct any more demolitions within the mosque, which they had threatened to do today.
The assurance was given by Harjiram Gurjar, a member of the Sawai Bhoj temple trust.
"That the two communities could sit across the table to amicably resolve the issue is a continuation of a 400-year old tradition of coexistence," said Kavita Shrivastav, a member of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), after the meeting.
Nasir Ali Naqvi, chairman of the Rajasthan Waqf Board, met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Tuesday and assured him that the Muslims of Asind, who form 10 percent of its 20,000 population, would fully cooperate with the administration in defusing tensions in the town.
Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) M. K. Devrajan, who visited the town Tuesday night to review the security situation, also met members of both communities.
A three-member team of the Rajasthan unit of the Congress Party, led by legislator K. C. Choudhary, is also scheduled to visit Asind to study the situation.
A decision, however, has yet to be taken on reconstructing the mosque.
Meanwhile, peace has been restored in Chomu town, about 50 km from here, where a clash was reported after a dispute between two liquor dealers belonging to the Hindu and Muslim communities.
Police said Lakhan, accompanied by a group of 12 hoodlums, had attacked his business rival Sikandar, who took shelter in the town's "dargah." The gang fired at the structure, causing minor damage before police intervened and brought the situation under control.
"Over 100 policemen are still deployed in the town to monitor the situation," Ajit Singh, Chomu's deputy inspector general of police, said.
