On Friday thousands assembled at the Bada Kabrastan mosque in Malegaon to offer the Jumma Namaz almost as if in defiance to the terrorism that struck them last Friday.
MALEGAON: On Friday thousands assembled at the Bada Kabrastan mosque in Malegaon to offer the Jumma Namaz almost as if in defiance to the terrorism that struck them last Friday.
The mosque where the blasts occurred was the spot chosen by many to offer their Friday prayers.
They started assembling at around 1 pm for the Namaz that began at 1:30pm. According to the locals, this mosque has never before seen such a large gathering.
Maulana Abdul Bari, the head of this Hamidiya mosque, led the gathering in offering their prayers.
“Today we have prayed in name of humanity. We have prayed for peace in Malegaon, in the nation and the world. We have prayed for those innocent victims and their families. I have appealed to people to maintain peace and restraint and also offer help to those who have lost their children. I have appealed to the community to take care of those kids who have been orphaned by the blasts,” the maulana said.
The area was manned by about 200 personnel of police, the SRP and the CRPF. “About 35,000 people offered prayers today. For the first time we have seen people praying on terraces, buildings, and even on the road in large numbers at the same time. But the whole affair was very peaceful. People have followed restraint and have maintained law and order,” stated PI Shoukat Shaikh, who was posted on special duty there.
Janata Dal had appealed people to observe a black day to condemn the blasts. In the inner Malegaon area, black flags were seen at many places. About 6000 to 7000 people were also seen wearing black ribbons.
“We are wearing the black ribbon to express our grief. Today we gathered here in these many numbers as we wanted to tell the perpetrators of this heinous crime that a Muslim is not afraid of death and that we will not bow down to terrorism,” stated Irfan Ahmed Ansar Ahmed, who was sporting a black ribbon.
Earlier, the police had searched the mosque and the Bada Kabrastan complex four times in the morning till the prayers. They were assisted by volunteers in large numbers. Akhtar Unneesa was the only lady volunteer seen guiding the gathering, urging them not to gather and move ahead.
“I come here to offer my services. People in this area respect me and so I come to see that people keep their cool and maintain calm,” she said.
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