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How the Police Downplayed the Violent Murder of the Deputy Imam in the Gurgaon Mosque Fire FIR

author The Wire Staff
Aug 03, 2023
While the FIR says the police learnt of the deputy imam’s death on the phone, hospital sources had told 'The Wire' that he was brought dead with multiple stab wounds in the chest.

New Delhi: The police appear to have glossed over the violent manner in which the deputy imam of the Sector 57 mosque in Gurgaon was killed by the mobs, while filing a first information report (FIR) on the incident.

The Wire has seen a copy of the FIR.

In a bland narration of events that unfolded in the wee hours of August 1, the FIR filed by station house officer (SHO) Satish Kumar says that he, along with six other cops, were on duty near the Anjuman Mosque when they saw a group of about 98 to 100 people emerging from near the Boom Plaza and approaching towards the mosque.

They had their faces covered, and were shouting slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as they surrounded the mosque.

According to the FIR, the police tried to stop the mob, but the mob attacked them. It further hurled stones at them and even opened fire at them.

As the strength of the mob increased, it became violent and set the mosque on fire. The police then moved towards the fire to douse it, but some of those in the mob managed to get inside the mosque through another gate.

The FIR says that Mohammed Saad was badly injured and Khurshid Alam was shot in the leg. The police, however, managed to evict the two of them to safety. The injured were taken to W Pratiksha Hospital.

Afterwards, the control room, fire brigade, and police station were informed and their seniors soon arrived at the scene of crime and dispersed the crowd.

Satish Kumar was informed on the phone that the deputy imam had succumbed to his injuries.

The deputy imam, who was standing in for the chief imam, was stabbed 13 times; his throat was slit before being killed.

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Of the nearly 100 people, the police managed to identify eight persons. They are Ankit, Rahul, Amra, Chaman, Nikku, Naveen, Monu and Lakki. They all are residents of the Tigra village.

Two others, Naveen and Twinkle, belong to the Nathupur village.

All of them have been booked for rioting, arson, and killing the deputy imam, among other sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Khurshid Alam, who was shot in the foot, is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), for severe assault injuries.

While the FIR says the police learnt of the deputy imam’s death on the phone, hospital sources had told The Wire that the deputy imam was brought dead with multiple stab wounds in the chest.

It is learnt that a few weeks before this attack, the mosque had been attacked by miscreants from a neighbouring village.

The police had acted promptly on the information that was shared with them and had detained several people in connection with this matter.

However, the matter was resolved through negotiation by some residents and elders, in order to restore peace in the area.

In May, the Supreme Court had dismissed a petition against the mosque and allowed prayers to take place there.

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