11 arrested in connection with hosting saffron flag atop Begum Shahi Masjid
text_fields
Eleven individuals have been arrested for their involvement in forcefully hoisting saffron flags atop the Mughal-era mosque, Diwan ji ki Begum Shahi Masjid, during a religious procession in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra.
According to the police complaint lodged by Zahir Uddin, the mosque's caretaker, the perpetrators, numbering between 1,000 to 1,500, barged into the sacred premises brandishing sticks and chanting objectionable slogans.
The chaotic scene witnessed the desecration of the mosque as saffron flags were raised on its minarets, walls, and inner premises.
The incident, which occurred on Monday, coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation in the inauguration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Social media footage captured the jubilant faces of the offenders as they scaled the mosque, triumphantly clutching saffron flags.
In response to this egregious violation, the detained individuals are facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting and promoting enmity. The Diwan Ji Ki Begum Shahi Masjid, an architectural marvel dating back to 1677 and commissioned by Diwanji Begum, enjoys protected status as a heritage monument under the Archaeological Survey.
Despite initial estimations indicating a larger mob, video evidence suggests the involvement of approximately 100 individuals in the reprehensible act.