Karnataka Wakf Board Takes Over Mosque In Haveri District For Lockdown Violation

Karnataka Wakf board superseded the management of Jamia masjid at Savanur in the state's northwest Haveri district and took its control for allegedly violating the lockdown norms by offering congregational prayers on 17 April, an official said on Wednesday (23 April).

"The Wakf board superseded the managing committee of Jamia masjid at Jumma Bazar in Savanur town of Haveri district and assumed its control for offering namaz-e-jumma prayer on April 17 in violation of the lockdown guidelines issued to contain the coronavirus spread," a board official said in a statement here.

Savanur is about 360km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state.

The board has appointed Mohammad Liyakhat, son of Mohammad Khalanda, Urdu section, block education office at Savanur as the mosque administrator.

The statutory board on 16 April advised all the devout across the state to offer congregational prayers (salat) at home, especially during the holy month of Ramadan from 24/25 April due to a ban on holding them in mosques following the lockdown extension since 15 April to 3 May.

The board also issued a circular to all mosques and dargahs (shrines) across the state not to offer prayers or other activities during the lockdown period in the interest and welfare of all the devout and to practise social distancing.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)