An explosion took place in a mosque in Ardha Masla village in Georai tehsil of Beed district at 2.30 a.m. resulting in communal tension in the area. Since the mosque was deserted at that hour, no one was injured in the blast which was triggered with gelatin sticks. Two persons have been arrested by the police on suspicion and their interrogation is expected to reveal the contours of the conspiracy to blast the masjid on the eve of Eid ul Fitr, which is an important festival for Muslims marking the end of the Ramzan period of fasting. Gelatin sticks are commonly used in mining and fishing. The cops are zeroing on those stocking these sticks.
It may be recalled that gelatin sticks were planted near Mukesh Ambani's residence Antillia on February 25, 2021, but they were not exploded. Sunday's blast has been triggered in the background of intelligence reports that vested interests are trying to fan communal violence in the run up to Eid ul Fitr in Dongri area of central Mumbai. Even as security was beefed up in Dongri, the blast occurred in Beed in the Marathwada region. In September, 2008, a blast had taken place near a mosque in Malegaon even as special Ramadan prayers (tarawih) were being offered inside.
The explosion damaged a portion of the mosque. News of the blast spread like wildfire in the area and large number of people gathered in front the local police station demanding arrest of all those responsible. The police was able to effect a breakthrough since one of the suspects reportedly posted a video of the incident on his Instagram account. It is not clear if the two suspects are affiliated to any organisation.
According to the FIR, a procession was organised in Ardha Masla, Beed, on Saturday evening apparently on the eve of Gudi Padwa. The procession went off peacefully, but around 9.30 pm, two people arrived at the mosque and alleged that it was illegally built. Before communal tension built up, the situation was brought under control by the police. The sensational murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Massajog village of Beed had created lot of tension in the area and police presence was stepped up.
Early on Sunday morning, the police received a call inform them about the blast. “We received a call from the Ardha Masla sarpanch informing us that an explosion had occurred in the mosque. We arrived at the scene, controlled the situation, recorded the complainant’s statement, and registered a case, after which the two suspects were arrested,” said Navneet Kavat, Beed superintendent of police, told media persons. He said bomb and forensic experts have gathered evidence from the scene of the blast. He appealed to the people to maintain calm and promised that the guilty would be punished severely. Security in the rest of the state has also been enhanced as a matter of precaution.
