Hundreds of Muslim rogues go berserk and terrorize Mysore. Desecrate 4 temples, damage public property, arson, riot, ransack furniture, torch vehicles , pelt stones, cause injuries

“The mob of hundreds ransacked places of worship, desecrated the idols and damaged public property. They even attacked the residence of former Mayor of Mysore, Srikantaiah, causing much damage.

Corporator and former Mysore mayor H N Srikantaiah (who defected to the BJP from the JD(S) last year), had to run for his life when a mob, armed with weapons, attacked his house and ransacked it.
His neighbour Venkatesh’s house, an anganwadi and several Kannada flagposts were also damaged. Two- wheelers were torched and cars and trucks stoned.

“Four temples were damaged. The miscreants also attacked the house of the former Mayor H N Srikantiah and ransacked furnitures.”

Damage to Ganesha temple. Click here

Mob violence rocks Mysore suburb
3 Apr 2009, 1444 hrs IST, ANI

MYSORE: The district administration of Mysore in Karnataka declared Section 144 after communal mob violence resulted in extensive destruction of  private and public property including injuries to police personnel.

This untowardly incident took place at Kyathamaranahalli, a suburb falling under Udayagiri Police Station in Mysore.

Reportedly, the trouble began when a couple of youngsters bought a tube of rubber vulcanising solution from a shop and sat on a nearby roadside wall where they used solution as an intoxicant. Later, they indulged in eve-teasing.

When this was reported to the local police, the youth were arrested and soon their relatives rushed to the police station demanding the release of the detained persons.

However, the police refused to budge which in turn prompted members of a particular community to attack houses and places of worship.

On sensing that the situation had gone out of control, the district administration rushed a huge contingent of police personnel to the spot.

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party who rushed to the spot blamed miscreants for causing such a havoc.

“The mob of hundreds ransacked places of worship, desecrated the idols and damaged public property. They even attacked the residence of former Mayor of Mysore, Srikantaiah, causing much damage. It is the handiwork of miscreants since the elections are round the corner,” said Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s Parlimentary Secretary, SA Ramadas.

One of the victims who incidentally happened to be the former Mayor of Mysore termed the violence as most unwarranted and recalled that by and large his neighbourhood had always been peaceful.

“The police detained four persons who managed to abscond while two others are in custody. Soon, the father of one of the accused mobilised people of his community and it was free for all,” said H N Srikantaiah, former Mayor of Mysore.

Meanwhile, 16 persons have been arrested by the local police.

The situation in the area is still tense but under control.

According to Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Shobha Karandlaje, a judicial inquiry will probe the violent incidents, probably after the elections.

3 houses torched in Mysore, 20 injured
http://www.deccanherald.com
Mysore, DHNS:

Several properties, including places of worship, were damaged and three houses set on fire in Kyatamaranahalli in Mysore on Wednesday night, following a clash between people belonging to two different communities.

About twenty people, including assistant sub-inspector Hanumanthappa from Udayagiri police station, were injured in the incident. About 35 persons, suspected to be involved in the arson, were arrested on Thursday.

Meanwhile, one person was found murdered in front of Suryaranayaswamy temple at Kyatamarahanahalli on Thursday night. According to police sources, the victim, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, had been selling coconuts in front of the temple. His head had been crushed with a stone.

Corporator and former Mysore mayor H N Srikantaiah (who defected to the BJP from the JD(S) last year), had to run for his life when a mob, armed with weapons, attacked his house and ransacked it.
His neighbour Venkatesh’s house, an anganwadi and several Kannada flagposts were also damaged. Two- wheelers were torched and cars and trucks stoned.

Though the police fired in the air, lobbed tear gas shells and used mild force, it took around five hours for the restoration of peace.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been clamped in the area. However, fearing threat to their lives, several families have vacated the locality on Thursday.

The seed of violence was sown when three youths, belonging to a particular community, who were allegedly under the influence of drugs, picked up a quarrel with a shop keeper from another community on Tuesday evening over a trivial issue. Instead of inserting a one rupee coin, a youth had inserted 50 paisa in the coin phone box and this resulted in an altercation.

The shopkeeper then informed the police. The cops freed the youths with a warning on Wednesday evening. In an act of venegeance, the youths resorted to violence, supported by some other members from their community.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who is in-charge of the district, took stock of the situation on Thursday and alleged that it was a pre-planned act to disturb the peace in the area.

Will India become the first non-Muslim country to uphold the Muslim’s unfettered right to sport a beard?

Battle for beard set to get bigger
Zia Haq , Hindustan Times

New Delhi, April 04, 2009

Muslim organisations are up in arms over an alleged comment on Monday by a Supreme Court judge, who reportedly cited “Talibanisation” while turning down a Muslim student’s plea to sport a beard in school.

Now, the debate over the Muslim beard —- commonly considered an Islamic virtue rather than an immutable tenet — has come full circle. The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a Muslim mass organisation, filed a broader case last month in the highest court, angling for a far-reaching ruling to allow Muslims to keep beards unconditionally, like Sikhs.

The Jamiat case is likely to be one of the most fascinating courtroom duels over an Islamic emblem outside the Muslim world.

Here’s why. It is not often that an Indian civil case rests largely on the validity of anecdotes from the Islamic world. Evidence in support of the beard ranges from 1,000-year-old Islamic injunctions from the Hadith (Prophetic traditions) to the Hukum ul Islam, a famous treatise in Arabic. The English translation was specially procured from London’s Dar At-Tawheed Publications.

“Our contention is that it is essential for Muslims to keep a beard in the light of the texts and traditions,” Anis Suhrawardy, the lawyer representing Jamiat leader Arshad Madani said.

Just in case the court rules in favour of the Jamiat, India could become the first non-Muslim country to uphold the Muslim’s unfettered right to sport a beard.

Few Muslims think that keeping a beard could amount to supporting the Taliban’s extremist character. “I don’t dispute a particular judgement but if keeping a beard is akin to being a Taliban, I am proud to be one,” Jamiat leader Mahmood Madani told HT.

Two previous cases over a right to keep a beard, both involving employees in the armed forces, prompted the special leave petition filed by the Jamiat. In defence organisations, a person is allowed a beard if it was sported on joining service.

Most Muslims agree that the beard has great religious significance but it is commonly treated as non-essential.