Waqf row: Mob pelts stones at Muslim homes in Haveri dist

NT Correspondent

Haveri

Unfounded hysteria over residential properties being claimed by the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf (KSBA) led a mob to pelt stones at the house of a Muslim civil society member in Kadakola village, Savanur taluk, Haveri district. Large rocks were found strewn around Mohammad Rafi’s house, which sustained damage to its windows. A two-wheeler belonging to the family was heavily vandalized. As many as 15 individuals from the mob have been arrested, and around 200 police officers have been deployed.

Tensions reportedly began rising among some residents after Housing, Minority Welfare, and Waqf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan held a meeting on September 3, instructing panchayat development officers to register allegedly encroached plots in the Kadakola gram panchayat as waqf. On September 27, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akshay Sridhar issued written instructions on the matter, causing some residents to fear eviction, which led to the violent incident. However, Haveri district Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vijay Mahantesh called these fears unfounded, noting that misinformation spread by some media reports had misled the public.

Haveri district Superintendent of Police (SP) Anshukumar assured that the situation was under control. “We received reports of a disturbance in Kadakola village. Around 7 to 7:30 pm, people gathered and attacked some houses. In this incident, five persons were injured and taken to the hospital. They haven’t filed complaints yet, but we have collected accounts from police staff. We will file an FIR on a suo moto basis and register cases based on the statements of the victims,” he said. A controversy has been brewing in Karnataka ever since notices were issued by the local tehsildar to 124 farmers in Honavada village, Tikota taluk, Vijayapura district, indicating that the KSBA was claiming their land.

The State government later identified this as an error in a gazette notification, which incorrectly claimed 1,200 acres as waqf land in the village when it was only 11 acres. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured that the notices would be withdrawn and that no one would be evicted, but the Opposition BJP has continued its protests.