Maharashtra Police Uses UAPA in Mosque Blast Case

Two Men Detained for Alleged Involvement

Maharashtra’s Beed district police have applied the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and a section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for “terrorist act” against two men arrested for their alleged role in a mosque bomb blast in Ardhamsla village, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

Incident Happened on March 30

• The incident took place early on March 30 at the Mecca Mosque in Ardhamsla, in Georai tehsil.
• Gelatin sticks exploded inside the mosque, damaging its ceiling fans, doors, windows, books, flooring, and walls.
• No casualties were reported.

Two Suspects Arrested

• The two suspects, Vijay Rama Gavhane (22) and Shriram Ashok Sagade (22), both residents of the village, were arrested shortly after the blast.
• Police said the men worked in well-digging, which involves using explosives.

UAPA Sections Used

• Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat said, “Considering the gravity of the crime, we have applied all necessary sections of UAPA related to this case.”
• The two were produced in a local court on Saturday. Police inspector Usman Sheikh requested to apply sections 15 (terrorist act), 16 (punishment for terrorist act), and 18 (conspiracy) of the UAPA, along with Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning terrorist acts.
• The court granted police custody of the two men until April 9.

Initial Case Registered Under BNS Sections

• Initially, police had registered a case under BNS Sections 298 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult religion), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), and 196 (promoting enmity between groups).
• Police officials confirmed to the Hindustan Times the addition of sections under the UAPA.

Blast Followed Dispute During Religious Procession

• The blast occurred after an altercation on Saturday evening during the urus (commemoration of the death anniversary) of Sayyad Badshah in the village.
• Police said members of all communities had joined the religious procession, but a dispute arose between the two accused and others.
• “A minor dispute escalated during the procession,” a police officer was quoted by the Hindustan Times as saying. “The accused reportedly abused members of a particular community and threatened to demolish the mosque. The situation was defused by community members at the time.”

Accused Stayed at Nearby Farm and Entered Mosque Around 2 AM

• Later that night, the two men allegedly stayed at a nearby farm and entered the mosque around 2 am to carry out the blast.
• Locals spotted them fleeing, which helped the police identify and arrest them.

Accused Had Questioned Recent Renovation Work at Mosque

• According to the police, the accused had questioned recent renovation work at the mosque and issued threats a day before the blast.
• The Mecca Mosque stands adjacent to the Sayyad Badshah Dargah and villagers had recently carried out repairs in preparation for Ramzan.

Complainant Says Gavhane Lives Next to Mosque

• Rashed Ali Hussain Sayyad (69), the complainant in the case and resident of Ardhamsla, said: “Around 2:30 am, we heard a loud explosion. When we reached the mosque, we saw extensive damage to the ceiling fans, doors, windows, books, flooring, and walls. Sayyad Usman told me he saw Gavhane and Sagade fleeing just moments before.”
• Sayyad added that Gavhane lives next to the mosque and had previously been booked for illegal possession of weapons. The mosque’s caretaker, Sayyad Shammu, confirmed the threats issued by the two men.

AIMIM Leader Calls for UAPA Invocation

• The arrests led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader and former Member of Parliament Imtiaz Jaleel to demand the invocation of UAPA, stating: “When a Muslim is accused in a minor case, harsh measures like house demolitions are taken. Why not the same here?”

Bandh in Gevrai on Tuesday

• The incident also resulted in a bandh in Gevrai on Tuesday, with locals demanding that charges under the National Security Act and UAPA be applied to the case.

Police Trace Gelatin Sticks Procurement

• Police said they have traced the procurement of the gelatin sticks used in the explosion and are pursuing leads that could result in further arrests.