Khandwa: Police in Madhya Pradesh have registered a case against Mohammad Hanif, president of a mosque committee in Kharkala village, for allegedly failing to report the stay of an outsider on mosque premises. The case involves Akhtar Raza, a resident of Bihar, who was temporarily appointed as imam to lead prayers.
Authorities charged Hanif under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for contempt of a public servant’s order. Local rules require mosque committees to inform police about outsiders residing on their premises. Hanif stated that Raza was on probation and lived in a space provided by the committee, not inside the mosque. He said the committee intended to submit documents after confirming Raza’s permanent appointment.
Raza explained that uncertainty about his role delayed verification. He said his family briefly visited before returning to Bihar due to a lack of accommodation. At present, he stays in committee-allocated space with others.
Community members alleged that the FIR reflects pressure from right-wing groups aiming to disturb communal peace in Kharkala. Tensions surfaced during recent Eid Milad-un-Nabi and Ganesh Chaturthi processions. While both communities had traditionally shared routes, objections arose this year from Hindu nationalist groups regarding the Eid procession.
Mehboob Khan, a resident, highlighted the imbalance in treatment. He said the Ganesh procession passed through Muslim areas without objection, but similar courtesy was not extended to the Eid event.
Khandwa Police confirmed disputes during both celebrations and said FIRs were filed in each case. Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Rai stressed that reporting outsiders’ stays is mandatory and violations attract strict action.
