A young man attempted to drive his car into Mathura’s Shahi Idgah on Sunday while threatening to demolish the mosque by detonating a bomb. The incident occurred around 12:30 pm when the man, identified as Pushpendra, tried to enter the Shahi Idgah with his Wagon R car. Police detained the man and an investigation is underway to ascertain his motives.
Eyewitnesses stated that the policemen on duty were taken aback by the accused’s actions as he approached the barrier, refusing to stop despite their efforts. Pushpendra's threat to blow up the Idgah drew immediate attention, causing a large crowd to gather at the scene.
Police officials then tried to persuade the accused to surrender peacefully but he remained uncooperative. After about half an hour of tense negotiations, the police were forced to break the car's windows to take him into custody. He was then handed over to the Govind Nagar police for further investigation.
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During interrogation, the authorities stated that Pushpendra exhibited signs of mental illness. Govind Nagar police station in-charge, Devpal Singh, stated that the young man appeared to be "crazy" and had been providing misleading information during questioning.
Mathura Shahi Idgah Mosque Dispute
This incident added to the ongoing tensions surrounding Mathura's Shahi Idgah, which has been the subject of legal disputes. The Hindu side, in their petitions, claim that the mosque was built in 1670 on the site of a Hindu temple constructed by Raja Veer Singh Bundela in 1618. They argue that the mosque should be removed and cite controversial evidence such as a lotus-shaped pillar and Hindu religious symbols within the mosque premises as proof of the temple's original existence.
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Meanwhile, the Shahi Idgah Mosque committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board have dismissed these claims. They assert that the mosque does not fall within the disputed 13.37-acre land and that there is no documentary evidence to support the petitioners' allegations regarding the birthplace of Krishna beneath the mosque.