In a recent incident that has stirred unrest in Shajapur district, Madhya Pradesh, three Muslim men—identified as Rustam (65), Akbar (85), and Babu Khan (70)—reportedly offered namaz inside a Ram Mandir in Kiloda village, located within the jurisdiction of the Salaslai police station.
The incident, which took place on October 26, has led to a significant backlash from the local Hindu community, with demands for stricter actions against the accused men. The Shajapur police filed an FIR against the men following a complaint but later released them with a notice, sparking further dissatisfaction among villagers.
According to the pujari, Omprakash Sharma, the incident occurred at around 5:45 pm when the three men entered the mandir premises, washed their hands and feet with water from the pot kept for the rituals, and began to offer namaz within the sanctified grounds. Despite the pujari’s immediate objections, the men reportedly remained in the mandir for approximately 20 minutes before departing. As per reports from law enforcement, the three men, who are brothers, were returning from a local bank when they stopped at the mandir to perform their evening prayers.
Following the incident, the pujari and several local residents approached the Salaslai police station to file a formal complaint, urging the authorities to take decisive action. In the FIR filed, the police recorded the statements of those involved and briefly detained the accused men, who subsequently admitted to performing namaz in the mandir. However, after filing the charges, the police released the men with a notice, pending further investigation.
The decision to release the accused men has drawn criticism from local Hindu groups and residents, who view the act as a violation of the mandir’s sanctity. Many have expressed disappointment over the perceived leniency, arguing that the authorities should respond more firmly to such incidents. The pujari and other members of the Hindu community insist that the act was deliberate, asserting that the three men could have chosen to offer namaz at any other location.
Police has reassured the community that an investigation is underway, and the matter will be presented before the court. Local authorities are working to address the concerns of the aggrieved community while ensuring that the case is handled judiciously.
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