A highly sensitive incident unfolded in Agra’s Mantoa area on the morning of Friday, April 11, when a bag containing the severed head of a pig was discovered within the premises of the Jama Masjid, just hours before the Friday (Juma) namaz. The placement of pork meat, considered deeply sacrilegious in Islam, sent shockwaves through the local Muslim community and prompted immediate allegations of a conspiracy from the mosque management.
Acting on time, the police scanned CCTV footage and arrested the accused within five hours.
However, in a startling twist, the perpetrator was identified as Mohammad Nazruddin, a Muslim resident of the area. This revelation has raised alarm bells, particularly given the timing of the incident, which coincides with ongoing nationwide protests by Muslim groups against the recently passed Waqf Amendment Bill. The act is now being seen as a deliberate attempt to incite communal tensions under the guise of victimhood, potentially to inflame public sentiment and destabilise peace.
Incident sparks communal tensions
According to eyewitness accounts, people arriving early for Fajr (dawn) namaz noticed a suspicious bag placed near the hauz (ablution tank) in the mosque premises. On inspection, it was found to contain the severed head of a pig—a deeply offensive object in the Islamic faith. The Jama Masjid Management Committee immediately informed the police, who responded quickly, removed the bag, and began scanning nearby CCTV cameras.
One of the surveillance videos showed a man, his face partially covered with a handkerchief and wearing sunglasses, placing the bag inside the mosque compound around 11 am–12 noon the previous day (Thursday, April 10). Based on this footage, the police identified and arrested the suspect within five hours.
Accused arrested and identified Muslim
DCP City Sonam Kumar confirmed that the severed animal head had been sent for forensic analysis. The accused was identified as Nazruddin, a resident of Teela Nandram locality in Mantoa. He was captured on CCTV footage placing the bag inside the mosque and was taken into custody. Interrogation is ongoing.
Post-namaz unrest and police response
Despite the police’s quick action and the arrest of the accused, the situation escalated after Friday prayers. Committee members informed the congregation about the “shameful incident,” which led to religious and anti-government slogans being raised outside the mosque.
The crowd swelled quickly, forcing PAC and police forces to intervene. When appeals for calm failed, mild force and lathicharge were used to disperse the protestors, and order was restored within 20 minutes.
Mosque committee claims conspiracy
Jama Masjid Committee President Mohammad Zahid Qureshi raised concerns that the act was not random, but part of a calculated plot to disturb peace. “The Imam called me at 6 am, saying someone had placed meat inside the mosque. When I arrived, I saw the severed pig’s head in a bag—this is no accident. This was done to incite chaos,” Qureshi said.
He went on to state that Muslims have consciously refrained from aggressive demonstrations against the Waqf Amendment Bill so far, but such provocations appear designed to spark confrontation. “We are not even protesting the Waqf Bill out of wisdom and restraint. But this appears to be a trap—an attempt to ignite communal tensions and then paint Muslims as the aggressors,” he said.
Vice President Mohammad Sharif Qureshi added, “This is not just an insult to our faith but an attack on the peace of Agra. Whoever did this wants to set fire to our city.”
The mosque premises were subsequently washed and purified by the committee.
A Pattern: Growing Muslim mobilisation against the Waqf Amendment Act
The incident in Agra comes amid a surge of protests across nation following the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament. In several parts of Bharat—including West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Telangana, Assam, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu—Muslim organisations have organised mass demonstrations after Friday namaz, often spilling out into city centers, raising slogans, and confronting police forces.
In West Bengal, the protests have been particularly intense. Muslim demonstrators took to the streets in districts like Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda, and even urban centers like Kolkata and Santragachi. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly assured the Muslim community that her government would “protect Waqf properties,” openly rejecting the central legislation. This apparent state-backed defiance further emboldened protesters.
In one video shared by BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya, a bus driver in Kolkata is seen being forced to remove a saffron flag from his vehicle while being surrounded by Muslim protestors, with police standing by silently. Malviya captioned the video:
“Saffron is not just a color—it represents both existence and resistance… Has it become a crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee?”
In Ahmedabad, the protests outside the historic Sidi Saiyyed Mosque saw thousands rallying against the bill. Placards reading “Withdraw Waqf Bill” and “Reject UCC” were prominently displayed, and slogans like “Tanashahi nahi chalegi” (Dictatorship won’t be tolerated) echoed through the streets. The Gujarat police had to detain dozens to prevent the protest from turning violent.
The Agra incident, especially against the backdrop of escalating Muslim dissent over the Waqf Bill, raises troubling questions: Was this yet another orchestrated provocation designed to either trigger riots or provide justification for political mobilisation under the guise of victimhood?
Police on high alert, investigation ongoing
DCP Sonam Kumar confirmed that the situation is under control. “This was a highly sensitive case. We moved quickly and used all technical inputs to apprehend the suspect in less than five hours. His motive is still under investigation,” he said.
While Agra has narrowly avoided full-blown unrest, the timing and nature of this incident cannot be ignored. As protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill continue to flare across the nation, authorities remain on high alert to prevent further communal flashpoints.
What is the Waqf Amendment Bill?
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2023, recently passed by Parliament, aims to reform the powers of Waqf Boards while enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties across the country. One of the most significant provisions is the prohibition on illegal encroachments and the automatic registration of properties as Waqf land. Under the amended law, no property can be declared as Waqf without proper documentation and the issuance of a public notice.
Additionally, the bill introduces a time-bound framework for investigating claims of Waqf ownership—a provision aimed at curbing past misuse where land was arbitrarily taken over under the pretext of Waqf. The law also mandates greater accountability from State Waqf Boards, which are now required to submit detailed annual reports to the government. Furthermore, the bill provides for the establishment of tribunals with judicial oversight, thereby limiting the previously unchecked powers of the Boards. Importantly, the amendment seeks to protect public and private lands from being wrongfully claimed as Waqf property.
A wake-up call
As the investigation unfolds, the Agra incident must serve as a wake-up call—not only for the police, but also for those who blindly rally behind communal slogans without verifying facts. In a democracy, protest is a right—but when outrage is weaponised through deception, it threatens the very peace it claims to defend.
Agra may have narrowly avoided a riot this time, but the pattern is clear, and the stakes are rising.
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