Katipalla mosque controversy: Writer's house vandalized by miscreants

Mangalore, Sep 6: A group of miscreants allegedly instigated by the President of the Katipalla Block-II mosque, ransacked the house of a Kannada writer and made away with cash and gold ornaments.

Abdul Jabbar Katipalla, a colunminst with local Kannada newspapers, said that a group of around 50 people surrounded his house on Monday night, while six among them entered into the house by breaking open the front door.

“As there was no one inside the house, the miscreants intentionally damaged the furniture, refrigerator etc before escaping with a cash amount of Rs 15,000 and two and a half pawan gold” said Mr Katipalla, who who was apparently at his relative's placee when the incident took place.

He alleged that Salim Rafi, the President of Katipalla Block-II mosque, provoked the miscreants to vandalize his house.

In his complaint to Suratkal Police, Mr Katipalla mentioned the names of six miscreants as Iqbal, Siddiq, Yaseen, Bindas Ibrahim, NMPT Bava and Mohammad Shareef, all local residents.

The incident occurred in the backdrop of a controversy that has gripped the mosque. A city based Kannada eveninger in its debate column had recently carried an article criticizing the practice of “special classes for women,” by Mohammad Shareef Baqavi, who was recently reappointed as the Mudarris of the mosque by its president Salim Rafi.

Enraged by this article, Salim Rafi after Isha mass prayer in the mosque on Monday night, allegedly provoked the youth to 'teach a lesson' to those who tried to “tarnish the image of the mosque and its Mudarris”.

Abdullah (name changed), a local resident, who was present at the Isha prayer, said that soon after the prayer, Salim Rafi stood up and “advised” the youth not to tolerate any attempt to undermine the image of this mosque and its leaders.

Abdullah said, Salim declared that six persons including Jabbar Katipalla, Illyas, Husain and Siraj were behind this article and people need to teach a lesson to them.

A case has been registered at Suratkal police station based on Jabbar Katipalla's complaint.