Clash over non-payment of penalty for skipping namaz, 18 hurt

SHRAVASTI: Two groups exchanged blows at Pathanpurwa village here on Saturday night for not paying the penalty which was imposed for not offering namaz on Friday. Eighteen people, including eight women, were injured. Gilaula police have registered a case on Sunday morning. Heavy police force has been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure.
According to police, Neebar, a resident of Pathanpurwa, did not go to mosque to offer Friday prayers. Salim, Jameel and Kaleem, residents of the same village levied penalty of Rs 100 on him. Neebar told them that he would pay the penalty later. On Saturday night, when he was asked to pay, Neebar refused to do so. It led to heated arguments. The two groups then exchanged blows. It resulted into injuries to
Neebar, Sughra, Achchan, Jothee and Nazia of one group and Saleem, Shahnawaz and Farookh of the other group were among the 18 who received injuries. They are being treated at the primary health centre in Gilaula.
Moulvi Abdul Rasheed of Jamia Ashrafia, Chhoti Takia, Bahraich, condemned the incident. He said that only authorized persons like muftis and maulanas can impose penalty for not offering namaz. “Any Tom, Dick and Harry cannot do so, it’s wrong,” he said.
Gilaula station officer (SO) Vakil Pandey said that investigations are on. No arrests have been made.
Shravasti SP Srikant Singh said that a case has been registered.