A tense atmosphere prevailed in Santibastwad village of Belagavi taluk on Monday morning following an incident involving the desecration of Islamic holy texts. Worshippers arriving for Fajr prayers discovered that copies of the Quran and two Hadith books were missing from the under-construction mosque. After the prayers, a search led to the discovery of charred remains in a vacant plot adjacent to the mosque.
The shocking incident triggered anger among locals, with community members alleging it was a deliberate act aimed at disturbing communal harmony. Belagavi City Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbanian and DCP Rohan Jagadish rushed to the spot and launched a preliminary investigation. Locals claimed this was the third such incident in recent times and demanded immediate arrests.
Protests erupted across the region, with Muslim youth expressing frustration over alleged police inaction. Demonstrators from Santibastwad, Peeranwadi, Machche, and nearby villages attempted to march into Belagavi city to submit a memorandum, but were stopped en route. They were allowed to protest near the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) along the Belagavi-Goa highway, causing traffic disruptions for over two hours.
Later, a large gathering formed at Rani Channamma Circle where protestors called for swift justice. Belagavi North MLA Asif (Raju) Sait and District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi appealed for calm and assured that stringent action would be taken. Commissioner Marbanian termed the act an “attack on humanity” and promised that those responsible would be arrested within three days.
Preliminary findings indicate the miscreants exploited a security lapse, as CCTV cameras at the mosque were non-functional. Police suspect local involvement and have stepped up security in sensitive areas to prevent further unrest. Authorities have urged the public to maintain peace and avoid spreading rumours as the investigation progresses.
