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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Hindu Activists Demand Swift Enforcement Of High Court’s Loudspeaker Order, Muslim Scholars Decry Targeting

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Mumbai: After Bombay High Court’s judgement stressing that public interest prevails over religious use of loudspeakers, all communities have welcomed the judgement. However, Muslim scholars and activists have argued that only the Muslim community will be targeted against through this order, whereas the judgement speaks for all the communities.

On Thursday, the Bombay High Court passed a judgement saying that use of loudspeakers is not an essential part of any religion. The High Court was hearing a petition filed by Jaago Nehru Nagar Residents Welfare Association and Shivsrushti Co-op. Housing Societies Association Ltd. alleging police inaction against noise pollution caused by loudspeakers installed on masjids in the area.

While the HC bench reminded the authorities that cumulative ambient noise levels must not exceed 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night in residential areas, the court also noted that the police are bound to act on the complaints of noise pollution. The judgement brought two major changes in the existing procedures including the level of volume while using loudspeakers during the day and the responsibility of police to act against the religious pleas flouting the norms.

Advocate Kaushik Mhatre, who appeared for this matter, said, “According to Mahesh Bedekar vs The State of Maharashtra, the court has set a benchmark of sound levels to be below 55 decibels against the earlier practice of using the speakers on high volumes. It has also asked the police to take action against noise pollution instances under the Maharashtra Police Act.”

While the judgement has been welcomed by all communities upholding the convenience of human beings and the wrath caused by noise pollution, Muslim scholars and activists argued that it should not be turned.

Mufti Manzur Ziyaee, chairman of International Sufi Carvan, said, “Just like the entire planet, pollution is a major concern in India and everyone should contribute to curb it. Whether it is a religious, social or a personal event, the guidelines should be followed by all. There will be narratives targeting one particular community as the facilitator of this issue. Rather than religious perspective, both the communities should look at the issue as a national an environmental concern.”

Religious scholars said that apart from implementing the guidelines on religious places and events, they should also be implemented on social and personal events to win the fight against noise pollution.

Ashfaq Qazi, Mufti of Jumma Masjid at Kalbadevi, said, “Sharia does not say that we need to disturb someone through azaan. We support this order by the High Court as we also believe that nobody should be affected due to noise pollution. Azaan is held only for three to five minutes whereas there are events which use loudspeakers till late in the night. There should not be a dual policy and the rules should be same for all kind of events.”

Saleem Sarang, president of Muslim Welfare Association, suggested that only one mosque should use loudspeaker in the localities with multiple mosques as the objective of alerting people is being fulfilled by one mosque also. However, he alleged that Maharashtra’s member of legislative council Chitra Wagh has already given the judgement a communal angle through her social media post.

“Since the court’s judgement is for all the religions, it should be followed by everyone. However, the Muslim community is being specifically targeted by politicians like Wagh, who are portraying that the judgement is only for Muslims. She should not paint this issue with communal colours,” Sarang added.

Hindu organisations, on the other hand, alleged that the judgement is specifically meant for Muslim community which uses loudspeakers for religious purposes multiple times everyday, whereas the Hindus use it occasionally during festivals. They also demanded that the new guidelines should be implemented urgently.

Shriraj Nair, national spokesperson of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, said, “We support the High Court’s observation since loudspeakers being played five times a day is a big nuisance. Hindus use these loudspeakers for religious use only during festivals and does not harass people everyday. However, the law of the land is above every organisation and individual and should be followed by everyone irrespective of their religion.”

Sunil Ghanwat, national convenor of Mandir Mahasangh, said, “We welcome the Bombay High Court’s judgement. However such similar orders have been passed by multiple high courts and the supreme court as well but the government fails to implement them strictly. This is the reason mosques have been flouting these orders five times a day. We urge the government to implement the court’s judgement on immediate basis.”

Maharashtra

Pune Zubair Hangekar’s Pakistan connection, hope for new conclusions in the investigation… ATS releases him after questioning 19 people so far

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Mumbai: Pune Suspected terrorist Zubair Hungakar’s contact list has Pakistani numbers. Zubair Hungakar’s mobile contact list has 5 international numbers. Numbers of Gulf countries were found in Hungakar’s old and used handset. The old handset has 1 number for Pakistan, 2 for Saudi Arabia, 1 number for Oman and 1 number for Kuwait. It has been found that 1 Omani and 4 Saudi Arabian numbers are stored in the mobile phone used.

When asked about this number, Zubair said in response to a question during interrogation that he did not know. Suspected Al-Qaeda member Zubair Hungakar has been sent to judicial custody. Zubair Ilyas Hungakar was arrested on charges of spreading jihad in support of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent and threatening the unity and security of the country.

Zubair is originally from Solapur and currently works in a software company in Kalyani Nagar. He is married and has two children, and his family resides in the Kondwa area. Meanwhile, the ATS is thoroughly investigating the matter and is investigating whether Zubair had any links with Al-Qaeda members, why he had these materials and for what purpose. The police will also question his friend and examine his mobile and other electronic devices. It is also being investigated whether he was in contact with any other terrorist organisation. All these international numbers are important to Zubair and it is being speculated that he has terrorist connections and links. However, when questioned about these numbers, he gave vague answers that he did not know who they belonged to or what they were related to.

ATS officials said that investigations are being conducted to find out whether Zubair had any links with Al-Qaeda members and what was the purpose of this contact. We are also investigating why and for what purpose he had the Al-Qaeda material. His friend in his custody will be questioned and his mobile and other electronic devices will also be examined. It is also being investigated whether he came in contact with any other terrorist or not. Meanwhile, the ATS had earlier this month conducted search operations in different parts of the city. The operation was related to the investigation of an old ISIS module. At that time, suspected radical individuals were kept under surveillance. During this operation, 19 people were detained for questioning, but they were released after questioning. During these raids, the police have also seized some important documents along with electronic devices.

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Maharashtra

Amrauti MP Anil Bonde receives threat from Hyderabadi Muslim over email, anger over removal of IIC banner and anti-Islamic rhetoric, situation tense

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Mumbai: A Muslim organization called ICC had put up a banner at Panchoti Chowk in Amrauti, Maharashtra, which sparked a controversy, due to which communal tension has arisen in Amrauti. MP Anil Bonde has demanded a case to be registered against the putting up of the banner. Today, Anil Bonde has received a threatening email in this matter, after which the police have registered an NC in this matter and started investigating. This email has been said that Anil Bonde’s anti-Islamic statement has created hatred and the atmosphere of resentment against him among the Muslims of Hyderabad is very hot. The personal secretary of the complainant Anil Bonde has complained that when he was checking his email as usual in the morning, he received a threatening email. The following email was received on Bonde’s official email from an unknown email ID. Dr. Sahib, the language you used against Islamic teachings has ignited such a fire in the hearts of the Muslims of Hyderabad that the atmosphere here has become dangerously hot. This is anger, which turns into a storm with a spark. Every word of yours is feeling like an open wound to the Muslims, so control your language and your speech because Dr. Sahib, this time emotions have flared up so much that even a wrong word is enough to make the entire atmosphere uncontrollable. A threatening email has been received in the name of the angry Muslim community of Hyderabad. Bonde had filed a complaint in Panchavati Chowk regarding the banner of the Islamic organization. That is why the threat has been sent through email on the official email ID. After which an NC has been registered. Abel Bonde is identified as a hardline Hindutva leader and he had opposed the putting up of an Islamic banner at Panchavati Chowk. The situation is extremely tense due to this incident. The police are on immediate alert.

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Maharashtra

Abu Asim Azmi demands immediate help from Indian government after pilgrims were involved in a bus accident during Umrah in Saudi Arabia

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of Indian pilgrims in a road accident during Umrah in Saudi Arabia and has demanded that the Indian government help bring the bodies of the deceased pilgrims to India. Muslims are saddened and mourning after the video of this tragic accident went viral on social media. Abu Asim said that after visiting the house of Allah, Mecca, the pilgrims’ bus met with an accident while traveling to Medina and this accident was so terrible that 42 pilgrims died in it. Abu Asim said that this tragedy with Indian pilgrims who went for Umrah is very sad. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of all the martyrs. May Allah Almighty grant them a high place in Paradise, grant patience to the bereaved families and grant a speedy recovery to the injured Amen.

‎We demand Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar to immediately provide all possible assistance to the families who have to bring the bodies of their loved ones back to India.

‎And if anyone wishes to go to Saudi Arabia to perform the last rites of their loved ones, they should be issued emergency visas immediately and the injured should be provided with the best medical facilities.

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