Belagavi (Karnataka) – Tension gripped Belagavi on Friday evening as thousands of members of the Muslim community gathered at Rani Channamma Circle to protest the alleged burning of Islamic scriptures at a mosque in Santibastwad village, reported the Times of India.
A large protest rally was organised, starting from Channamma Circle and moving towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where a memorandum was submitted. Protesters demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for stealing copies of the holy scriptures from an under-construction mosque and setting them on fire in a nearby field.
The rally, led by Belagavi North MLA Asif Sait, commenced after Friday prayers at various mosques and dargahs in the city. People began assembling at Channamma Circle in large numbers by the afternoon.
Throughout the rally, protestors raised slogans and waved flags, expressing their anguish and anger. They criticised the police department for its inaction, noting that despite assurances, no arrests had been made even four days after the incident, which took place on May 11. They referred to a previous protest, during which City Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang had promised to apprehend the accused within three days—a promise yet to be fulfilled.
Protestors called for a thorough investigation to uncover those behind the act. The gathering led to traffic disruptions across the city, and some youth even blocked roads, declaring they wouldn’t leave until arrests were made.
To maintain law and order, a large police presence was deployed at the protest site. As a precaution, Section 144 was imposed by the City Police Commissioner. Despite the tense atmosphere, the rally concluded peacefully.
