Bajrang Dal desecrates, attempts to torch Jamia Masjid in Tripura
Agartala: In yet another manifestation of rising Hindutva extremism in India, activists of the Bajrang Dal desecrated and attempted to set fire to the Mainama Jamia Masjid in Tripura state.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident took place at the Mainama Jamia Masjid located along the Manu–Chawmanu Road in Dhalai district. Liquor bottles, a threatening handwritten note and a Bajrang Dal flag were found inside the mosque’s prayer area, confirming the communal nature of the attack.
Authorities described the incident as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the local Muslim community and incite communal tension in the area. Fortunately, no one was present inside the mosque at the time of the attack, averting a possible tragedy.
Imam of the mosque, Maulana Mohammad Saiful Islam, strongly condemned the act, saying it was a calculated assault on religious sanctity aimed at hurting Muslim sentiments and disturbing communal harmony. Rejecting any suggestion of an accident, he said the desecration was carried out intentionally to create fear and unrest.
The threatening note, as reported by media outlets, read: “Jai Shri Ram. This is the first and last warning today. Something big is going to happen next time. Bajrang Dal. Jai Shri Ram. Be careful and listen properly. Even a small mistake will not be forgiven or tolerated.”
Calling the act a grave insult to Islam, the imam said Dhalai district is home to Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus who have long lived together peacefully. “We have always respected each other’s faiths, but Hindutva outfits like Bajrang Dal are now creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity,” he added, noting that a formal police complaint has been lodged. However, no arrests had been made until the filing of this report.
It is worth mentioning that similar incidents have been reported earlier in Tripura. In August this year, a packet of meat along with a threatening letter was discovered inside a mosque in Unakoti district during afternoon prayers. The letter demanded demolition of the mosque, claiming it was over 300 years old and calling for the construction of a temple at the site, underscoring the growing pattern of attacks on Muslim places of worship across India.
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