The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has relieved Dr Kamaluddin Farooqui, the cleric of Hazratbal shrine, from his duties for his involvement in the forced conversion of Haryana resident Saneep Kumar to Islam at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. Besides relieving Farooqui from his duties as Imaam-o-Khateeb, Aasar-i-Shareef, Hazratbal (the shrine of Hazratbal), an inquiry has also been instituted against him. A statement from the Waqf Board said it was in receipt of complaints in this connection and had taken cognizance of the allegations that Farooqui presided over forcible conversion during Jumat ul Vida (last Friday before Eid) prayers.
The inquiry committee set up by the Waqf Board to investigate the matter will be headed by Syed Mohammad Hussain, who is a member of the board. It will also include Ghulam Nabi Haleem, another board Member, and Mohammad Yaseen Khan, Imaam-o-Khateeb (chief cleric) of Syed Karam Shah Sahib in Karan Nagar, Srinagar. The decision to take action against Farooqui and regarding the inquiry committee was taken up by the board after an emergency meeting it held given fears regarding the impact on communal harmony.
The emergency meeting was convened in the Waqf Board central office and leading Imaam-o-Khateebs (clerics of various shrines) of the board participated. After the meeting, it was unanimously decided that the forced conversion incident could cause serious breach of peace and spread discord among the masses. Some leading clerics also said that during this case of forced conversion, due processes, as per Islamic jurisprudence, law and regulations set up by the government were ignored.
A massive controversy had erupted on April 7 after some videos of forced conversion of Sandeep Kumar to Islam went viral. Sandeep Kumar used to work as domestic help at the residence of a Nowhatta resident Islamist Anayat Muntazir. It has become known now that his employer coerced Sandeep to convert to Islam and recite kalma at Hazratbal shrine. Subsequently, FIR 55 of 2024 was lodged at Nigeen Police Station under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the investigation was handed over to a sub-inspector.
It appears that in view of Eid falling on April 10 (Tuesday) in Kashmir, the police have not given any details regarding their investigations so far. This also appears to be the reason for the Waqf Board not announcing its action against the cleric of Hazratbal Shrine. Sources, however, said that strict action is likely against the employer Anayat Muntazir at the shrine, setting the chain of events thereafter.
Earlier in the day (Wednesday), Chairperson of J&K Waqf Board Dr Darakhshan Andrabi offered Eid prayers at Hazratbal Dargah. She spoke to reporters after the prayers and said that she had prayed for the well being of the whole humanity. We should be thankful for the peace we have got after decades of unrest, she said. “We all have to put in our efforts to sustain this peaceful atmosphere. We are celebrating Eid today without the fear of any law & order problems. May Almighty save us from the evil eye of disrupters of peace, and may harmony and prosperity be our future,” said Dr Andrabi.
