KOLHAPUR, India, 13 April 2008 — In order to ease tension in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district over the razing of a madrasa, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has called a meeting of Muslim leaders in Mumbai on April 25.
Kolhapur city was tense yesterday, a day after Hindu activists clashed with Muslims. The clashes followed the demolition of an illegally constructed madrasa in the Kanan Nagar slum area on Thursday by officials of the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. To condemn the corporation action, members of several Muslim organizations staged a protest fast in the Bindu Chowk area on Friday.
According to the police, a group of angry Muslim youths stormed the office of deputy city engineer M.M. Nirmale, who had supervised the demolition of the madrasa, assaulted him and ransacked his office. Nirmale had to be hospitalized for treatment. The news of the assault on Nirmale incensed Hindu activists who attacked and clashed with a group of Muslim youths in Bindu Chowk.
Police arrested 12 Muslims for assault on Nirmale.
A delegation of Muslim leaders yesterday met with state Minister Harshvardhan Patil and demanded the suspension of police inspector G.P. Dabade and Nirmale.
The minister later ordered an inquiry into the matter by the district Superintendent of Police Sukvinder Singh.
Patil also spoke to the chief minister and then informed the Muslim leaders that the chief minister has agreed to meet them on April 25 to resolve the issue. He appealed to the Muslims meanwhile to observe restraint and maintain peace.
