NEW DELHI, 20 February 2003 — Police imposed a curfew on a central Indian town yesterday after a violent outburst by Hindu activists resulted in clashes with authorities.
Indian police and Hindu protesters clashed in Dhar town of Madhya Pradesh state after Hindus were turned away by authorities from entering a mosque on Tuesday.
The Star News television channel reported 15 policemen and four Hindus were injured when police opened fire after activists of Hindu Jagaran Manch (Hindu Awakening Forum) group pelted them with stones. Several vehicles were also damaged. The Manch claims the Bhojshala shrine was converted into a mosque in the 16th century by Muslims. Hindus are allowed to enter the shrine once a year, while Muslims are allowed to offer prayers every Friday.
District authorities called an all-party meeting to bring peace, but it was boycotted by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Bharatiya Janata Party and the Hindu forum.
Indian opposition groups allege that the Hindus are reviving the contentious shrine issue in order to convert religious sentiment into votes in state elections later this year.
This is the fourth place of worship that Hindu groups have staked a claim to. In 1992, Hindus demolished the 16th century Babri Mosque in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya, claiming it was located on the site where the Hindu deity Ram was born.
Hindus have also claimed a mosque in the northeastern city of Varanasi. Another mosque in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh has been eyed by Hindus.
Two men wanted in connection with bomb attacks in Bombay which killed nearly 300 people were being deported from Dubai to India yesterday, a senior police officer said.
Mohammad Dosa and Ejaz Pathan, top aides of Indian-born underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, are implicated in the 1993 Bombay blasts as well as a number of other cases including extortion, murder and attempted murder.
Dosa and Pathan were detained earlier this month in Dubai and the Indian police requested they be handed over to them, said the police officer in Bombay, who did not want to be named.
“It is a big success for our intelligence agencies. Both these men are involved in serious crimes, including the Bombay blast. They are being brought to Bombay tonight,” Minister of State for Home I.D. Swamy told Star TV.
