Chairman of Shahi Jama Masjid Committee booked after allegedly threatening the lawyer and petitioner of Krishna Janmabhoomi Case on Sunday.
Zahid alias Pappu, the chairman of the Intezamia Committee, had delivered a provocative speech against Mahendra Pratap Singh. He also made a provocative video in the Jama Masjid premise in Agra, which went viral on the internet. The viral video threatened Singh with facing the rage of the Muslims of Agra if Jama Masjid was hampered.
Singh is the lawyer and petitioner of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi case. The Mathura-based lawyer recently sent a notice to the Archeological Survey of India. The notice asked the ASI to unearth Krishna idols allegedly buried under the staircase of Jama Masjid. After receiving the video, Singh sent an application to Kotwali Police station to ask for security against the “death threats”.
Statement from Police
“A case has been registered against the chairman of the Intezamia Committee at Sahi Jama Masjid Jahid alias Pappu at Mantola police station for giving a provoking statement and making it viral on the internet,” said Sudhir Kumar Singh, the Senior Superintendent of Police in Agra.
Mantola Police charged Zahid under Section 153 (Provocation with intent to cause riot) and 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code. He was also charged under Section 56 (Criminal intimidation) of the Information Technology Act.
Statement from Both Parties
According to Mahendra Pratap Singh, Krishna idols are buried under the Shahiba Begum Masjid in the Shahi Jama Masjid complex. He claims in his notice to ASi, that the idols were stolen by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1670. The idols, in his words, belong to the Keshav Dev Temple in his district which was destroyed by Aurangzeb.
Another viral video shows Zahid alias Pappu claiming that his words were not targeted toward any government or party. “We are … against individuals like Mahendra Pratap Singh,” said Zahid Qureshi.
