By Admin 
The police have detained more than 25 people in the case of dispute over the Ashoka Pillar in Shilapat at Hazratbal Dargah in Srinagar. Officials said on Sunday (07 September) that more than two dozen people have been detained for questioning in connection with the sabotage with Ashoka Icon at Hazratbal Dargah. This action has been taken after examining CCTV footage.
Officials said that more than 25 people have been detained by the police after investigating the video and CCTV footage of the incident after Friday prayers. A senior police officer said, “No one has been formally arrested yet, but some people are being questioned.”
Controversy erupted after sabotage of Ashoka sign plaque
In Kashmir on Friday (September 05), there was a big controversy in the Hazratbal Dargah after sabotage with a plaque with Ashoka sign. Political parties accused Waqf Board chief Darkhshan Andrabi accused of hurting religious sentiments using the national mark in the mosque and demanded a criminal case against them and immediately removing them.
Waqf Board should apologize for mistake- Omar Abdullah
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah insisted, “I have never seen the use of insignia in this way at any religious place. Mosques, dargahs, temples and gurudwaras are not government institutions. The Waqf Board should apologize for this mistake. The national mark is for government work, not for religious institutions. ”
While parties like the National Conference, PDP and CPI (M) described the use of Ashoka sign in the mosque as provocative and blasphemous, the BJP strongly condemned the damaged plaque and claimed that the incident is an attempt to rewrite terrorism and separatism in the valley.
National Conference condemns the incident
The National Conference has condemned the violence and not only apologized to the chairman of the Waqf Board, but also to remove them from the post. NC MLA and Chief Spokesperson Tanveer Sadiq said, “We will write a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly demanding to set up a committee to investigate the misappropriation of Waqf’s financial and properties during the last five years.”
Case filed against unknown people
The plaque was placed inside the Hazratbal Dargah on Thursday, where a relic of Prophet Muhammad is kept, causing resentment among the devotees. He said that keeping any shape or symbol inside the mosque is against the Islamic principle of monotheism. After Friday prayers, unknown people broke the plaque and removed, after which the police registered a case against unknown people.
The dispute increased further when the Andrabi, appointed by the BJP, demanded legal action, including prosecution of the accused under the rigorous Public Safety Act (PSA) to break the insignia.
Waqf Board played with people’s feelings- CM
CM Abdullah condemned Andrabi’s response, saying, “The board played with people’s feelings and is now threatening. The Chief Minister said, “First, at least they should have apologized for this. They should accept their mistake. It should not have happened.”
PDP demands to file a case of blasphemy
PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has demanded a case of blasphemy under section 295-A against Dr. Darkshan Andrabi and Waqf officials. The same CPI general secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, while supporting the removal of the Waqf president, termed the people’s religious condolences to install the Ashoka mark inside the dargah.
The BJP’s Sithanya unit is in support of Darkhshan Andrabi, but due to religious sentiments, many BJP leaders have also stood in protest. Now after people are taken into custody, there are chances of catching the case more.