Friday, December 15, 2006

Sufi cleric Dawoodi is presently recuperating

The Times of India - India
Sunday, November 12, 2006

Srinagar: The man accused of hurling a grenade outside a mosque in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama town on Friday, said on Saturday that he was paid one thousand rupees by Hizbul Mujahideen. He told army interrogators that the grenades were meant for prominent Sufi cleric Abdur Rashid Dawoodi.

Five people including four children were killed and more than 50 more injured. Ghulam Nabi was captured by local youth in the town of Tahab late on Friday night and handed over to the army.

A resident of Litter village in Pulwama district, Nabi worked as a labourer and was instructed to kill particularly Sufi cleric Dawoodi. Dawoodi, a prominent leader of the Saut-ul-Aulia Sect, is presently recuperating from his injuries at a government hospital, which has been sanitised.

Since last year there has been tension across Kashmir over the 'rise' of Sufism, as most Muslims are critical of their teachings and alleged that "Islam is being distorted".

Inspector General of Police S M Sahai confirmed the report about the alleged payment given to Nabi, and said the army is expected to hand the attacker to the police by Saturday evening. Though Sahai has not termed it as sectarian violence, people in Tahab and the followers of Dawoodi have claimed that the majority Hanafi and Shafaie sects has launched another attack on them.

This is the third attack on Dawoodi's life. Twice earlier, he was attacked in his hometown Anantnag after his sermons in audio-cassette form became very popular in the region.

Meanwhile, in a written communiqué sent to various news organisations, the Hizbul Mujahideen has denied responsibility for Friday's grenade attack, terming the news of its involvement as being part of a campaign to malign it.

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Friday, December 15, 2006

Sufi cleric Dawoodi is presently recuperating
The Times of India - India
Sunday, November 12, 2006

Srinagar: The man accused of hurling a grenade outside a mosque in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama town on Friday, said on Saturday that he was paid one thousand rupees by Hizbul Mujahideen. He told army interrogators that the grenades were meant for prominent Sufi cleric Abdur Rashid Dawoodi.

Five people including four children were killed and more than 50 more injured. Ghulam Nabi was captured by local youth in the town of Tahab late on Friday night and handed over to the army.

A resident of Litter village in Pulwama district, Nabi worked as a labourer and was instructed to kill particularly Sufi cleric Dawoodi. Dawoodi, a prominent leader of the Saut-ul-Aulia Sect, is presently recuperating from his injuries at a government hospital, which has been sanitised.

Since last year there has been tension across Kashmir over the 'rise' of Sufism, as most Muslims are critical of their teachings and alleged that "Islam is being distorted".

Inspector General of Police S M Sahai confirmed the report about the alleged payment given to Nabi, and said the army is expected to hand the attacker to the police by Saturday evening. Though Sahai has not termed it as sectarian violence, people in Tahab and the followers of Dawoodi have claimed that the majority Hanafi and Shafaie sects has launched another attack on them.

This is the third attack on Dawoodi's life. Twice earlier, he was attacked in his hometown Anantnag after his sermons in audio-cassette form became very popular in the region.

Meanwhile, in a written communiqué sent to various news organisations, the Hizbul Mujahideen has denied responsibility for Friday's grenade attack, terming the news of its involvement as being part of a campaign to malign it.

No comments: