Three days before the Malegaon blasts, former MLA Nihal Ahmed had informed Superintendent of Police (Rural) Raj Vardhan that there could be an attack on the Badi Masjid.
MALEGAON: Three days before the Malegaon blasts, former MLA Nihal Ahmed had informed Superintendent of Police (Rural) Raj Vardhan that there could be an attack on the Badi Masjid. Three of the four blasts that killed 38 in Malegaon on Friday took place near the mosque.
The fact that the police had prior warning emerged when local leaders, including Ahmed, called on Deputy Chief Minster RR Patil on Sunday. Vardhan, who was present, confirmed that he knew of the threat.
The State Minorities Commission has also said that Malegaon policemen held a meeting with leaders of the Muslim community and trustees of Badi Masjid and told them of the threat.
In addition, the Union home ministry had sent advisories to the state in which the possibility of an attack on communally sensitive Malegaon figured prominently.
But despite the warnings, and the big congregation that had gathered for Shab-e-Baraat, security was minimal. Patil himself admitted that no cover was provided to the mosque on Friday.
Why? In Malegaon, this is one of two questions being asked. The other is, will the state take action against the police for failing to act.
The point was also raised by state Congress spokesman Sanjay Nirupam when he visited Malegaon. Talking to the press, he said, “Why didn’t police take Ahmed seriously? Is it just a coincidence that five years ago, communal riots broke out in Malegaon and four months later municipal elections were held and this time too, municipal elections are scheduled to be held in four months?”
Nasim Siddiqui, chairman of the Minorities Commission, and Dr Abraham Mathai, vice-chairman, have also written to DGP Pasricha about the failure to provide security.
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