NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Soni Sinha in Jaipur
An inquiry has been ordered into the tampering of land records to show cornfields at the site of a mosque in Rajasthan that was razed last week, officials said.
"The records related to the ground where Mughal emperor Akbar built the mosque in the 16th century at Asind town, 200 km from here," said Kanhaiyalal, an official of Rajasthan's revenue department posted in Asind.
The mosque was pulled down on July 27 by a group of Hindu nomads who installed a idol of Hanuman in its place.
The government defused an Ayodhya-like situation on Tuesday when they persuaded the nomads to remove the idol.
Revenue Secretary G S Sandhu has begun an inquiry into the demolition. Heavy security has been deployed in the town as a precaution.
Rajasthan Waqf Board chairman Nasir Ali Naqvi visited the spot on Wednesday and expressed satisfaction over the early resolution of the dispute.
In Jaipur, a government spokesman said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was watching the situation closely.
In a statement Wednesday night, Gehlot expressed happiness that the "delicate situation" had been resolved with the removal of the idol. Terming the mosque razing "deplorable," he said steps would be taken to prevent its recurrence.
Tension swept the town after a 300-strong mob demolished the mosque, which had existed within the premises of the Sawai Bhoj temple.
The situation was reminiscent of the incident in Ayodhya nearly nine years ago when Hindu zealots pulled down the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.
The Sawai Bhoj authorities have assured the government that they would not carry out any more demolitions within the temple.
Indo-Asian News Service
EARLIER REPORT: Ayodhya-like situation defused in Rajasthan town
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
