Madhya Pradesh Police Action Sparks Outrage: FIR Against Imam and Mosque Officials

Police in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, have filed an FIR against an imam who arrived from Bihar and was staying at a local mosque. The authorities cited the imam’s unannounced accommodation as the reason for the action. This led to a case being registered against the mosque’s leader and the imam on September 9. Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of AIMIM and a Member of Parliament, responded to the incident by suggesting that the SP should familiarize themselves with Article 19. Owaisi took to social media to condemn the police’s decision, labeling it a violation of constitutional rights. He questioned the justification for considering it a crime for an imam from Bihar to reside in the mosque. He pointed out that Article 19 guarantees fundamental rights. The police, however, defended their actions by stating that they were in compliance with the law. SP Manoj Kumar Rai clarified that it is a requirement to notify the police when accommodating outsiders. The mosque’s head and the imam, residents of Bihar, were charged under Section 188 for failing to notify the police about the imam’s stay, violating the District Magistrate’s orders. The SP further explained that during the imposition of Section 144 in the district, it is essential to inform the police station about the arrival of any external individual, which was not done in this case.