Hindus in Bareilly threaten to migrate! A dispute erupts over converting a house into a ‘mosque’, breaking a decades-old ‘agreement’

Bareilly: The dispute erupted on January 17th in Mohammadganj village, under the Bisharatganj police station in Bareilly, after a mass prayer was held at Haseen Mian’s house. Police charged 12 people with disturbing the peace, prompting the Muslim side to approach the High Court. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, prayers were offered again at the same location on February 14th, further escalating the situation. The Hindu side claims that there has never been a temple or mosque in the village and that they are being pressured by the introduction of a new tradition. A joint team of police and administration arrived at the scene and attempted to pacify both sides.

Decades-old agreement and a dispute over a new tradition
According to villagers, a unique agreement was reached decades ago in Mohammadganj, stating that neither a temple nor a mosque would be built there to maintain peace in the village. Under this rule, people have been performing prayers and offering prayers in their homes. The Hindu side alleges that Haseen Mian’s house is now being illegally converted into a temporary mosque. They say this new tradition is against the law and is spoiling the atmosphere of the village.

Warning of Migration and the Muslim Side’s Argument
The controversy has escalated to such an extent that several Hindu villagers, including Roopwati, have threatened to sell their homes and leave the village. They allege pressure and comments are being made against them. Meanwhile, the Muslim side and village head Arif say they have been offering namaz at home for 20-25 years. They claim they pray together on Fridays and have always supported the Kanwar Yatra. According to them, outside organizations are coming and disrupting the harmony of the village.

Protest by Hindu Organizations
Ajit Rathore, an official of the Rashtriya Hindu Dal and Bajrang Dal, has called it illegal and demanded that the new tradition be stopped immediately. He alleged that a video of the prayer being offered again has been made viral, which will not be tolerated. Meanwhile, SP (South) Anshika Verma and SO (Satish) clarified that police forces are deployed in the village and peace is currently maintained. The administration denied reports of migration, stating that both parties have been pacified through dialogue.

Waiting for the Court’s Decision
Village head Arif says they will respect the court’s decision and are currently following police instructions. However, the Hindu side remains fearful and threatens to sell everything and leave if the forced namaz (prayer) is not stopped. The village has a 35 percent Muslim population and the rest is Hindu. All eyes are currently on the High Court’s next course of action, as the matter is now caught between faith and old social agreements.