Crime
Trouble brews over Bhopal’s Jama Masjid, 11th-century Bhojshala monument

Two neighbouring states of north India, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, seem to be sailing in the same boat with similar headlines they have been making in the last few days.
While the Gyanvapi mosque case in Varanasi is being debated in and outside the court, a similar issue of ‘temple vs mosque’ seems to be brewing in Madhya Pradesh with a fresh instance surrounding the 19th century Jama Masjid located in Bhopal’s Chowk Bazar area.
A right-wing outfit, Sanskriti Bachao Manch, has claimed that the Jama Masjid located in old Bhopal’s Chowk Bazar locality was built in the 19th century on a Shiva temple.
The issue gained momentum after a group of right-wing activists on Thursday met the state Home Minister Narottam Mishra and drew the state government’s attention to this matter.
Sanskriti Bachao Manch headed by Chandrashekhar Tiwari submitted a memorandum demanding a detailed survey of the Jama Masjid.
Tiwari said that he is preparing to file a petition in the local court over the issue in the coming days.
“We have demanded a detailed archaeological survey of the Jama Masjid by the state government. We will also file a petition in the court seeking a survey and excavation to bare the history of the mosque built over a temple called Sabha Mandap’,” Tiwari told the press after meeting Mishra on Thursday.
Tiwari said that he has raised demands for the survey on the basis of facts collected in Hayate-I-Qudsi (a book on Bhopal’s first woman ruler Nawab Qudsia Begum). The empress (1819-1832) built the Jama Masjid and Gohar Mahal Palace in Bhopal.
“In the book on her life, Nawab Qudsia Begum mentioned that the work on building the Jama Masjid in Bhopal began in 1832 and was completed in 1857. It is also clearly mentioned that the mosque was built on the same land where a Hindu temple known as ‘Sabha Mandap’ already existed,” Tiwari claimed.
Notably, the same issue has been raised by another right-wing outfit called the ‘Hindu Dharma Sena’.
However, this is not the only ‘temple vs. mosque’ dispute in Madhya Pradesh that is being debated these days. Earlier this month, an organisation called the ‘Hindu Front for Justice’ filed a PIL in the high court claiming that the Bhojshala monument located in Dhar district belongs to the Hindu community.
A PIL was filed challenging the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order of 2003, which imposed restriction on Hindus to worship at Bhojshala daily.
Subsequently, the Indore bench issued notices to the ASI, Centre and the MP government seeking their response on the matter.
Bhojshala is an ASI protected 11th century monument which Hindus claim is a temple of Vagdevi (Saraswati), while the Muslim community treats it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
As per the arrangement made by ASI on April 7, 2003, Hindus perform puja on the premises every Tuesday, while Muslims offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.
“Only the members of the Hindu community have a fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution of India to perform puja and rituals at the place of goddess Vagdevi within the premises of Saraswati Sadan, commonly known as Bhojshala situated in Dhar,” the petition claimed.
“Members of the Muslim community have no right to use any portion of the aforesaid property for any religious purposes,” it added.
The petitioner also urged the court to direct the Centre to bring back the idol of goddess Saraswati from the museum in London, and re-establish the same within the Bhojshala complex.
The plea has cited that the then rulers of Dhar had installed the holy statue at Bhojshala in 1034 AD and it was taken to London in 1857 by the British.
One of the petitioners, Ashish Goyal, said, “We have now started fighting legally to reclaim our religious place. The court found our petition comprehensive and issued notice.”
Crime
Pahalgam terror attack: NIA arrests two men for harbouring terrorists

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough in the Pahalgam terror attack case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two men for allegedly harbouring the terrorists who carried out the heinous attack.
The accused have been identified as Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park. Both Batkote and Hill Park are in Pahalgam.
They purportedly disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and also confirmed that they were from Pakistan and affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
“Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok [hut] at Hill Park before the attack, as per NIA investigations. The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever,” the agency said.
The NIA has arrested the two accused under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Twenty-six people were killed and 16 were grievously injured in the terror attack in Pahalgam. The incident brought India and Pakistan close to war. At least 10 houses of suspects were also dismantled in the Kashmir Valley.
The Jammu & Kashmir Police had also released the sketches of three suspects. The police announced a reward of ₹20 lakh for those who provide information about their whereabouts.
According to the police, Adil Hussain Thoker, a resident of Anantnag, and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai and Hasim Musa alias Suleiman of Pakista were involved in the terrorist attack on civilians in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow.
Thoker, according to the police records, exfiltrated into Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2018. The Thoker-led group was believed to active for the past one year in the region. Further investigations are going on.
Crime
Mahim Police Arrest 37-Year-Old Man For Sexually Abusing Two Minor Boys Under Pretext Of Video Games; Case Registered Under POCSO Act

Mumbai: The Mahim police have arrested a 37-year-old man on Thursday, for allegedly sexually abusing two minor boys, aged seven and eight, after luring them to his home under the pretext of letting them play video games.
The accused has been booked under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police are investigating if the accused has a history of similar offenses.
The incident came to light on Wednesday evening when one of the victims informed his mother about the ordeal. The mother promptly filed a complaint with the police, leading to the swift apprehension of the accused.
According to police, the accused reportedly offered the boys money before the alleged abuse. One of the victims was admitted to Bhabha Hospital for treatment after complaining of pain to his mother. Both children are friends.
The Mahim police have registered a case under Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 4, 6, 8, and 10 of the POCSO Act. While initial checks have not revealed any prior criminal history for the accused, police are investigating if he has a history of similar offenses.
Crime
Delhi: Three thieves arrested, six stolen phones recovered

crime
New Delhi, June 20: Three thieves were arrested and six stolen mobile phones were recovered along with a dummy pistol and a scooter used in multiple crimes by the Tilak Marg Police in Delhi, an official said on Friday.
The accused have been identified as Arbaz (22) of Sarai Kale Khan, Pankaj Mourya (22) of Jungpura, and Rahul Bagh (26) of Chirag Delhi.
“Six stolen mobile phones, one dummy pistol and a scooter used in the crime were recovered from the accused,” said Delhi Police in a statement.
The official said that the arrested accused had been selling stolen mobile phones on e-commerce platforms using fake Aadhaar cards and forged invoices.
The breakthrough in the case came after a complaint was filed by a Blinkit delivery boy, who reported the theft of his mobile phone, stating that it was stolen while he was delivering an order on Pandara Road.
The accused had tricked him by pretending to make an online payment before fleeing with his mobile phone. An E-FIR (No. 80056549/2025) was registered under Section 303(2) BNS at PS Tilak Marg on June 13, 2025.
A special team led by SI Kamlesh Kumar, along with HC Sanjeet Kumar, Ct. Jhabbar Mal and Ct. Ram Tyagi worked under the supervision of SHO Gurmail Singh and ACP Nageen Kaushik to crack the case.
CCTV footage from the area showed the culprits fleeing on a scooter. Order details from Blinkit and further analysis of internet logs helped police trace one suspect to Sarai Kale Khan. However, he vacated the premises a month ago.
Using technical surveillance and informants, police eventually tracked the trio to a rented house in Chhatarpur.
So far, three E-FIRs from Tilak Marg, Kalkaji, and Vasant Kunj South, and one lost report from Sunlight Colony, have been worked out with these arrests.
The official said that further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the racket and recover additional stolen items.
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