Tension in Andhra after hate-mongers kill Muazzin in mosque, burn Quran

Tension gripped the city of Rajamundry in Andhra Pradesh after unknown terrorists barged into a mosque, killed a Muazzin (the one who invites the faithful to prayer five times a day through Azaan), burnt copies of Quran and urinated there before vacating the place. 

The incident took place at Noorani Masjid of Lalacheruvu locality where the victim Mohammed Farooq (61), a native of Bihar, was working as a muazzin for the past four months. 

“Farooq was a newcomer to the city and was not known much outside the community. He used to do the chores in the Masjid. He was a kind-hearted person who was leading the life according to the tenets of Islam due to which miscreants targeted him,” said a local resident.

It was the duty of Farooq to give Azaan (call for Namaaz) early in the morning. But on Friday, as there was no sign of Azaan, one of the neighbours went to check and found him lying in a pool of blood. A case of murder was registered but no arrests have been made yet. Police are investigating the case from all angles and have not ruled out any possibility. 

“It’s too early to specify the reason as the investigation is underway, we are looking into the case from all possible angles," said Rajamundry Urban SP, B Rajakumari.

The officer added that a team is working with Bihar authorities to reach out to the victim’s family, all measures are being taken and nothing can be ruled out at this stage." She added that the body has been sent to his home state of Bihar. 

Mohammed Ibrahim Khan, a representative of Muslim rights’ group, Muslim Samakya, said, "Farooq came from a very poor background and was working for a meagre salary of Rs 5,000.”

He said "We aren't naming anyone or any group as of now, but the acts which the miscreants have done following the brutal murder, such as burning of Quran, leaving cigarette butts on the floor along with signs of urination are scary."

He added, "The murder seems to have been done with the ultimate intention of creating conflict and polarisation.”

As the news spread, the city witnessed a spate of protests, with hundreds of Muslim people and civil society groups taking out a rally and holding mass prayers on the road. 

The local residents told that this kind of incident took place for the first time in Rajahmundry. They demanded to arrest the culprits. “The incident shows how communal poison is being spread by Sanghis," tweeted Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. He demanded CM Chandrababu Naidu to take immediate steps to arrest the culprits.