Bajrang Dal Objects to Prayers Inside Muslim Family’s Home in Rishikesh, Police Reviewing Incident
A dispute erupted after a Muslim family offered Friday prayers inside their home, with police saying no formal complaint has been filed so far.
Rishikesh: A controversy has emerged in the Gomaniwala area of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, after members of the Bajrang Dal objected to a Muslim family offering Friday prayers inside their own home.
The incident reportedly took place on July 3 following Friday prayers. Bajrang Dal members alleged that the homeowner, Mohammad Idris, was illegally converting his private residence into a mosque. The episode has sparked discussion over religious freedom and communal harmony.
According to reports, Bajrang Dal workers stopped one of the people leaving the house after the prayers and asked him to show his identity documents. After learning that he was originally from Bihar and was staying in the area temporarily, the group raised further objections.
Led by local Bajrang Dal leader Naresh Uniyal, the workers then confronted Mohammad Idris outside his home. They alleged that he had been inviting people from other districts and states to gather for prayers and had arranged for an imam from outside the locality, claiming these activities were unlawful.
A video of the confrontation has since circulated widely on social media. The Bajrang Dal leader also shared the footage on Facebook, expressing concern over the presence of people from outside the area.
Mohammad Idris denied all the allegations. He said his family has been living in the house for the past six years and that there had been no attempt to convert the property into a mosque. He maintained that offering prayers at home with family members and a few friends is a personal religious practice and not a violation of the law.
Bajrang Dal members, however, argued that such gatherings at private properties could eventually lead to those places being used as permanent places of worship. One of the group’s members stated in the video that they had no objection to local residents praying inside their homes but questioned the participation of people from outside the locality.
The incident has renewed debate over religious freedom and the right to worship in private spaces. India’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to practise and profess their religion, while rights advocates have raised concerns over increasing scrutiny of the religious practices of minority communities.
Police officials in Rishikesh said that no written complaint or First Information Report has been filed in connection with the incident. They added that the viral video is being examined and that any further action will be taken in accordance with the law.