7 Detained Over Hanuman Chalisa Recital Near Mosque

by The_unmuteenglish

Varanasi, Dec. 4, 2024: Police briefly detained seven students in Varanasi on Tuesday after they recited the Hanuman Chalisa near a mosque located on the grounds of Uday Pratap College. The incident coincided with fellow students offering namaz at the mosque, sparking a tense situation, authorities confirmed.

According to student leader Vivekanand Singh, the act was a protest against what he described as “outsiders” gathering at the mosque. “We have no objection to students offering namaz or worshipping at the mosque or temple on campus. However, we oppose the presence of outsiders claiming to offer prayers here,” Singh stated.

Additional Commissioner of Police Vidush Saxena said officers intervened to prevent an escalation. “The students were determined to recite Hanuman Chalisa near the mosque. We intervened to maintain peace and sent them back. Seven students were detained but were released later in the evening,” Saxena said.

The mosque, a longstanding point of contention, was built on land donated to the Waqf Board by the Nawab of Tonk. However, Uday Pratap College’s administration has disputed the legality of the structure.

College principal DK Singh cited a 2018 notice asserting that the property belongs to the college trust and cannot be sold or transferred. In 2022, the administration lodged a complaint that halted construction at the mosque.

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