Manipur: BJP leader’s home set ablaze in Thoubal over support for Waqf bill

A mob in Manipur’s Thoubal district allegedly set fire to the home of a Bharatiya Janata Party leader on Sunday night after he supported the passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill in a social media post, The Indian Express reported.

The district magistrate subsequently issued orders prohibiting public gatherings following a report by the superintendent of police.

On Saturday, Mohammed Asker Ali, who is president of the state BJP Minority Morcha, said on social media: “Do not do politics on Waqf Amendment Bill. Welcome Bill. We support WAB [Waqf Amendment Bill]”.

A day later, a mob of around 7,000 persons, armed with sticks and stones, stormed into Ali’s home in Lilong Sambrukhong Mamei in the district and set it ablaze, The Indian Express quoted unidentified police officers as saying.

The Thoubal district magistrate on Monday issued orders prohibiting the assembly of five or more persons and the carrying of firearms, swords, sticks, stones or other lethal weapons, PTI reported.

The 2024 Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, and in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the bill on Saturday, turning it into a law.

A waqf is a property dedicated to a religious, educational or charitable cause under Islamic law. Each state has a waqf board led by a legal entity vested with the power to acquire,...

Read more