Blast at Indian mosque: Muslims question absence of terror charges
Attack has shaken Muslim community, says Owaisi
THE WORLDVIEW
March 31, 2025
FOLLOWING the arrest of two men for allegedly triggering an explosion at a mosque in Maharashtra’s Beed district, lawyers and members of the Muslim community have raised concerns over police’s decision not to invoke anti-terrorism laws against the accused.
The explosion, which occurred during the weekend, caused significant damage to a section of the mosque in a village in Beed. The Talwada police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the suspects, Vijay Gavhane and Shriram Sagde, under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, 2023, and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. The charges include damaging a place of worship, outraging religious sentiments, and making and possessing explosive materials.
However, politicians and legal experts argue that the accused should also be charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terrorism law.
Senior politician Asaduddin Owaisi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage, stating: “In Beed, Maharashtra, at 2:30 AM on March 29, a masjid was targeted in a blast by Vijay Gavhane and Shriram Sagde. Vijay had even posted a video of himself with gelatin sticks. It’s clear he is confident of being treated as a hero.
“The masjid suffered grave damage, and the attack has shaken the Muslim community in the village. Our AIMIM team, including Shafique Bhau and Adv Khizer Patel, reached the spot and helped get an FIR registered.”
Owaisi also questioned Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the legal approach, asking: “Why have only weak sections of BNS and the Explosives Act been applied? Why not UAPA? Are they not terrorists? Will they receive ‘bulldozer justice’? Will they be made to compensate for rebuilding the mosque?”
Supreme Court lawyer Javed Shaikh echoed the concerns, calling the incident an act of terrorism. “This is a clear case for UAPA. In the past, governments have charged activists from the Popular Front of India under UAPA simply for organising rallies. Here, we have an actual explosion targeting a place of worship,” he said.
A report by The Free Press Journal highlighted growing communal tensions in Maharashtra, quoting Muslim residents who fear for their safety and livelihoods. “I run a shop in a textile market where 70 per cent of the traders are Marwaris and other Hindus, while the rest are Muslims. These rising incidents worry me — not just for my business, but for my life,” said Aslam Malkani, a resident of Dongri.
“First, there was the Aurangzeb tomb dispute, then the Bhayandar dargah issue, and now a mosque blast in Beed. Even mainstream politicians are openly stoking communal tensions with their speeches.”
Muslim leaders stressed that the incident has deeply unsettled the community, especially given that one of the accused allegedly boasted about his involvement without any apparent fear of legal repercussions.