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'Perpetrators of this crime must be devoid of religious sentiment'

Mohammed Ishrafi, 23-year-old imam of the mosque, recounts the events of the day.

It was raining quite heavily and we were performing namaz (prayers) in the mosque. There were only about 40 people inside as opposed to double the number on normal days.

It was around 0642 hours (IST) and I was conducting prayers when a loud explosion rocked the small courtyard inside the mosque. Shrapnel flew in all directions and got embedded on the walls.

The explosion created a foot-long crater (which was later filled with cement by the police) and two persons were injured with one bleeding profusely from a wound on the lower part of his leg from a bomb splinter.

When the initial shock subsided, those who had come to pray were consumed by anger and there were hysterical demands for retaliation.

I said we should first find out who was responsible for the outrage.

Officials, including District Magistrate Aradhana Shukla and senior policemen, rushed to the mosque.

The DM pleaded for restraint pointing out that the mischief was designed to ignite communal passions. She requested that we prevent the volatile situation from getting out of control.

I had great difficulty persuading my community members to remain calm. Thanks to Allah, an explosive situation was averted because no Muslim can remain unaffected when a bomb is thrown into a mosque.

So far, there had been no incident of violence in Saharanpur where polls have by-and-large been peaceful barring acrimonious exchange of words between various candidates.

Politicians of all hues rushed to the mosque soon after word of the explosion spread. There were local Muslim and Hindu politicians, but nobody from the BJP came.

I am not taking any names (about who is responsible). Anybody or any party could have done it. But, he or they have to be criminals of the worst kind who have no religious sentiment.

These criminals have no religion. Allah will not spare them.

The prompt action by the local administration, along with our efforts in pacifying Muslim youths, saved Saharanpur much trouble.

Now, a couple of policemen are stationed in the mosque at night and this arrangement will continue till the elections are over.

As told to Tara Shankar Sahay

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