Beed, March 30 – A blast occurred early Sunday morning at a mosque in Ardha Masla village of Maharashtra’s Beed district, allegedly triggered by gelatin sticks placed inside the religious structure, police said. No injuries were reported, though the explosion damaged the mosque’s interior.
The incident took place around 2:30 a.m. in Georai tehsil. Authorities have arrested two suspects, identified as Vijay Rama Gavhane (22) and Sriram Ashok Sagde (24), both residents of Georai taluka. The explosion led to heightened tensions in the village, prompting officials to deploy heavy security to maintain order.
Investigation and Security Measures
According to the police, an unidentified man allegedly entered the mosque through the back entrance and placed gelatin sticks, which later exploded. The village head promptly informed the Talawada police at approximately 4 a.m.
A bomb detection and disposal squad (BDDS), alongside a forensic science team, was dispatched to the site for investigation. Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat and senior officials visited the scene, assuring the public that a case has been registered against the accused and that legal action will be taken accordingly.
Possible Motive and Community Response
The explosion followed a reported altercation between two groups on Saturday night during a ‘Sandal’ procession in the village. Locals, who have long celebrated festivals together, noted that the mosque is located near the Hazrat Sayyad Badshah Dargah, a site visited by Hindus during the Gudi Padwa festival.
Residents suggested that the attack might have been an attempt to disrupt the scheduled joint celebration of Gudi Padwa and Ramzan Eid on Sunday morning. Despite the damage, villagers quickly came together to repair the mosque, replacing broken tiles and ensuring the structure was restored. A peace committee meeting was also convened to maintain communal harmony.
Authorities Urge Calm
SP Kanwat has appealed to the public not to spread rumors and to cooperate with law enforcement to prevent further unrest. Security forces remain deployed in the area to ensure peace and stability.
The investigation is ongoing as police seek to establish a detailed motive and any further links to the incident.
(Inputs from reports)
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