No prayer outside places of worship in Hailakandi

File photo

Hailakandi, May 17, 2019:

In view of reports that some anti-social elements, groups, and organizations are trying to whip up religious sentiments through various means to create divisions in society, the Hailakandi district administration has imposed a curfew from Thursday night.

In an order issued to this effect on Thursday, District Magistrate Keerthi Jalli said Section 144 CrPC has been promulgated with immediate effect as the administration has got reports that certain anti-social elements, vested groups, and organizations are trying to flare-up religious sentiments through various means to disturb peace and tranquillity in the district.

The order strictly prohibits the offering of prayer outside the demarcated boundary of mosque, temple, church, namghar, and mazhar, on roads and in any public places that may create inconvenience to the general public and obstruct the movement of traffic.

Any violation of the order will result in prosecution as per provisions of IPC.

The order will remain in force under further order.

It is to be mentioned that on May 10, 2019, a group of people belonging to the Muslim community visited the Mosque at Marwari Patti in Hailakandi for Friday prayers. As the Ramjan is going on, number of persons was too large to be accommodated within the hall for which they decided to read ‘Namaaz’ on the road. However, the administration did not allow this fearing traffic issues. The situation soon turned to chaos.

Following this, the District Magistrate has clamped curfew on May 10 which continues to date.

In the incident, a youth succumbed to his injuries he had sustained during the clashes. The youth, who has been identified as 28-year-old Jamir Hussain, was being taken to hospital after he sustained bullet injuries after authorities opened fire during the communal violence in the Barak valley town.