Mosque, Dargah vandalised in northeast Delhi during violence, claim locals

A mosque and a dargah were vandalised before being set afire during the communal violence in northeast Delhi, locals claimed on Wednesday. The mosque is situated at Ashok Nagar area in northeast Delhi, while the dargah is located in Chand Bagh.

The locals in Ashok Nagar area said the mosque was set on fire by unidentified miscreants on Tuesday afternoon.

"We got to know about it through social media... We came to know from police that the mosque was vandalised around 12 pm. This is unfortunate and I can say that it was not done by any local, outsiders were involved," one of the locals, who did not wish to be named, said.

He said the mosque was very old and construction work was going on there. There were a few Muslim families who lived there but now they have left the area, he added.

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Sajjad Ibrahim from Chand Bagh expressed anguish over the vandalism of the dargah.

"Chand Peer Baba is worshipped more among Hindus who flock here on Thursday night. Seeing the shrine in such a condition is very hurtful. Did any Hindu shrine get vandalised this way? Those who vandalised the dargah forgot the legacy of the saint who blesses and fulfills wishes of both communities," he said.

Opposite Chand Bagh is Bhajanpura. According to residents, Chand Bagh has 70 per cent Muslim population, while Bhajanpura has 80 per cent Hindus.

Families in Bhajanpura said they saw masked rioters come in vans and disperse into two groups that vandalised both areas.

Locals said both sides are suffering in the absence of electricity, shuttered medical shops and absence of basic necessities like vegetables and milk. 

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