In a small village in the Jalna district of Maharashtra, communal tensions have surged following the alleged desecration of a 12th-century Mahadev temple on September 19. According to police reports, pieces of meat were found thrown inside the temple, sparking outrage among local residents.
Investigations revealed a different narrative. CCTV footage identified 38-year-old Nandkishor Suresh Wadgaonkar, a resident of Anwa village in the Bhokardan tehsil, as the individual responsible for the act. Police officer Santosh Mane from the Paradh police station indicated that Wadgaonkar was reportedly upset after being denied permission to construct a home near the temple, combined with personal grievances which may have prompted his actions.
In the aftermath, right-wing activists organized protests and declared a bandh. During these demonstrations, inflammatory speeches targeting the Muslim community were made, accompanied by abusive language and provocative slogans. This unrest has resulted in fear among Muslim families, prompting many to evacuate the village.
Students from minority-run BHMS and ITI colleges also left their hostels, returning to their homes due to the escalating tension.
Despite Wadgaonkar’s arrest, right-wing groups refuted the police’s findings, insisting that a broader conspiracy was at play and accusing authorities of protecting the “real culprits.” They have announced their intention to escalate protests, including a Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha, gathering thousands in Bhokardan’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Chowk, where they called for the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to further investigate the case.
Notable figures at the rally included religious leader Ratnagiri Maharaj, activist Sangram Bhandare, Ahilyanagar MLA Sangram Jagtap (NCP–Ajit Pawar faction), and Ambadas Ambhore, all of whom criticized both the police and the Muslim community. Their speeches reportedly featured communal overtones and hostility directed at Muslims, intensifying existing tensions.
The incident has evoked memories of a previous communal violence episode in the region. On March 23, 2023, Imam Zakir Sayyad Khaja of Anwa village was assaulted inside a mosque by assailants who demanded he chant “Jai Shri Ram.” After his refusal, he was reportedly attacked with a sharp object and had his beard cut.
In light of the volatile situation, Muslim community members approached Additional Superintendent of Police Ayush Nopany, urging action against the right-wing activists who they claimed exacerbated communal strife. Former MP Imtiyaz Jaleel condemned the inflammatory rhetoric delivered at the morcha, calling on police to resist external pressures and take legal action against provocateurs disrupting communal harmony.
Residents and community leaders suspect that these incidents form part of a larger agenda aimed at inflaming sectarian sentiments in the area.
Tags: Maharashtra, Jalna, Hindutva groups, temple desecration, tensions
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