Belagavi — Tensions escalated in Santi Bastawad village of Karnataka’s Belagavi district after three burnt copies of the Holy Quran and Hadith were discovered in a field early Monday morning, sparking widespread outrage and prompting a police investigation, reported the Newsminute.
According to officials, the sacred texts were taken from an under-construction mosque-like structure where prayers were held. Unidentified miscreants allegedly broke in on Sunday night, stole the books, and set them ablaze. The burnt remains were found about 200 meters away by worshippers who noticed them missing.
Angered by the desecration, a large group of Muslim youth and local residents gathered in protest, demanding the arrest of the culprits within two days. They also criticized authorities for failing to act in previous similar incidents.
The protest intensified as hundreds of demonstrators marched nearly 8 kilometers to Rani Chennamma Circle, raising slogans including “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” The situation became tense, prompting police to block roads and increase security presence to prevent escalation.
Senior officials, including Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin and DCP Rohan Jagadish, reached the scene and confirmed that a case had been registered at the Rural Police Station. Special teams have been formed to investigate the matter. Authorities mentioned that the CCTV camera installed at the building had been removed earlier that day for repairs, complicating the probe.
A peace meeting involving community leaders was later convened to restore calm and emphasize a united demand for justice. The area had earlier witnessed communal strain in February over an interfaith elopement case, further heightening sensitivity around the current incident.
