Close down Panka mosque, say leaders during Bagalkot Chalo

Hindutva organisations organised Bagalkot Chalo, a rally in Bagalkot on Thursday, to protest against the recent stone-throwing incident in the city.

They submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Sangappa who visited the protest site.

Among the various demands made by speakers was the permanent closure of the Panka Masjid, saying that miscreants sitting inside the mosque threw stones at police officers during the Shivaji Jayanti procession.

They said that the stone-throwing was a conspiracy and was aimed at insulting the Shivaji Jayanti procession on February 19.

They also said that the Panka mosque has been the point of contention for several decades. It has led to several law and order disturbances. They demanded that the mosque be closed permanently, its office-bearers and preachers be arrested and punished.

They threatened to demolish it if it was not closed down.

Leaders said that a process of constructing mosques without due permit is going on across the district and the officers are silent about it.

“The State government and district administration officials should not allow any new mosque in the city,” they said.

The leaders said that the District Police had failed to maintain law and order and to take appropriate legal action against the accused. The police have been silent even though one of the stones hit Superintendent of Police Siddarth Goel. They said that another procession will be taken out in the city if all the accused are not arrested immediately.

Heavy police security arrangements were made in the city, with members of the Special Action Force and other police units from elsewhere being deployed. Prohibitory orders will continue in most parts of the old city till Saturday.