the goan I network
VALPOI
Tension prevailed at Keri-Sattari late Sunday night after one group of Muslims accused another group of attracting their followers into the group.
A large crowd was gathered near the Bal Bhavan complex at Keri Sattari demanding action against a religious leader accused of influencing people to join their group.
According to sources, there were repeated complaints from the Sunni group of Muslims, alleging that a leader of the Tabligh group had been influencing its followers to join their group.
Such programmes were being conducted by a Tabligh group leader since the past few weeks and on Sunday many followers from the Sunni group were found at a house of the Tabligh group near the Bal Bhavan complex.
News spread like wildfire and this angered the Sunni group. A large number of Sunni group followers gathered near the Bal Bhavan Kendra in Keri, demanding a stop to the activities and action against the leader responsible for influencing Sunni believers to join the Tabligh group.
Followers from both groups confronted each other after which Valpoi police team led by PI Shivram Vaigankar rush to the spot and tried to defuse the situation.
The Sunni group remained adamant on their demands to stop such activities in Keri and action against those responsible for the activities.
At about midnight, PI Vaigankar called representatives of both groups for a meeting in the police station. He advised the Tabligh group to refrain from such activities which would disturb religious harmony in the area. A leader of the Tabligh group agreed to leave the area and assured not to continue the activities in future, a source said.
When contacted, PI Vaigankar said serious concerns were raised by the Sunni group of Muslims regarding activities being conducted by the Tabligh group.
“The situation is now under control, but serious action will be taken in future if such activities disturb religious harmony in the area,” said PI Vaigankar.
