Author: Maya Bhushan Nagvenkar
Publications: Herald
Dated: January 6, 2002
Panjim, Jan 5: Police are probing
into yet another instance of a non-Goan maulavi, allegedly delivering inflammatory
and seditious speeches recently. This time in a mosque at Vasco and areas
adjoining the port town.
Highly placed sources informed,
that the incident which was being probed by the Crime Branch earlier, had
now been transferred to the Deputy Superintendent of Police Anita Rodrigues
for preliminary enquiries.
They described this new occurance
as a near replica of the incident, which occured at Quepem, a couple of
months ago.
"The Vasco incident also follows
a similar pattern. Even to the extent wherein, a section of the locals
Muslims living in these areas, too, have expressed discomfort at the nature
of speeches and discourses delivered by this particular maulavi," they
said. "The only difference which we have noted in this case, has been,
that the maulavi had been camping at the mosque for a while," sources informed.
A preliminary report on this incident
is being prepared, police sources informed.
Police have observed from their
preliminary enquiries, that a dearth of maulavis of Goan origin in the
State, often results in the reliance on imports from other States, like
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc.
"Some of the outstation maulavis
take this opportunity as a toehold for carrying out such activities," sources
also informed.
While police preliminary investigations,
have showed that the first reported instance of an alleged inflammatory
and seditious speech by the maulavi occured in mid November, highly placed
sources claimed, that police are now in the process of collecting 'evidence'
against the particular maulavis.
"The same person also carried out
a speech of such nature at Birla area, located near Zuari nagar, where
he had managed to garner quite an audience," a police sleuth, who has been
entrusted the responsibility of garnering inputs, as part of the police
enquiry, told this reporter.
While senior police officers claim,
that they are presently collecting evidence to support the case, police
sources informed, that if a complainant is forthcoming now, it would strengthen
the case further.
"We are treading on delicate ground.
We need a complaint to come forward," police sources informed. Secretariat
sources also informed, that a report as directed by the Ministry of Home
Affairs on the number of madarsas, mosques, maulavis and their antecedents,
has already been compiled and sent to New Delhi. The report had been compiled
by the CID/Crime Branch.
It may be recalled, that such an
incident had also been reported at a mosque in Quepem some months ago.
The South Goa police had then been in receipt of a written representation,
from some local Muslims residing in Quepem, who had raised objections to
the allegedly inflammatory and seditious speeches made by a couple of non-Goan
preachers.