Beed mosque blast: Police invoke UAPA, terrorism charge against 2 men

The police in Maharashtra’s Beed district have invoked the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and a Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section for “terrorist act” against two men arrested for their alleged involvement in a bomb blast at a mosque in Ardhamsla village, reported the Hindustan Times.

The incident occurred in the early hours of March 30 at the Mecca Mosque in Ardhamsla, in Georai tehsil, a day before the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Fitr. Gelatin sticks exploded inside the mosque, damaging its ceiling fans, doors, windows, books, flooring and walls. No casualties were reported.

The two accused, Vijay Rama Gavhane (22) and Shriram Ashok Sagade (22), both residents of the village, were arrested within hours of the blast. Police said the men were employed in well-digging work, which involves the use of explosives.

Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat said, “Considering the gravity of the crime, we have invoked all necessary sections of UAPA related to this case.”

The two were produced in a local court on Saturday. Police inspector Usman Sheikh submitted a plea to invoke sections 15 (terrorist act), 16 (punishment for terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy) of the UAPA, along with Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to terrorist acts. The court granted police custody of the two men till April...

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