Miscreants stop women from praying in mosque

MANGALORE: Ugly scenes prevailed as groups clashed over the issue of allowing Muslim women to offer prayers inside the Noor Masjid in Hampanakatta in Mangalore on Friday.

Eyewitness told police that the women who entered Noor Masjid, near Milagres Church, to offer 'Juma Namaz' were allegedly attacked by miscreants who objected to their presence.

According to Haseena from Thokkottu, a youth pushed her out of the mosque. Police said there were 11 women inside the mosque when the attack took place, leading to tension in the area.

Haseena told Express that miscreants were not present inside the mosque but had just stepped into the mosque.

Initially, the group of attackers was just five but many joined them and began quarrelling with the women, she said. ''As I had come to the city on an errand, I had opted to say my prayers at Noor Masjid where women are allowed to say their prayers on Fridays,'' she said and recollected that she had offered prayers on the day of Eid.

Noor Masjid had prided over the fact that it allowed all groups of people to say their prayers on its premises. Until recently, members of Salafi and from Sunni movement jointly participated in prayers in a cordial atmosphere. Noor Masjid Administrative Committee Secretary P C M Kunhi played down the issue and said it had been sorted out amicably.

Pandeshwar police said the women had not lodged any complaint as they were keen on settling it with the intervention of their religious leaders.

Mangalore commissioner of police Seemant Kumar Singh said police intervened to prevent it from turning into a big issue. Friday's incident was unexpected. It is better the warring groups settle the dispute among themselves, the commissioner said.