Rajasthan Police Detain 12 Tablighi Jamaat Members Over Preaching Complaint in Banswara
Group from Gujarat detained for alleged unauthorised religious preaching; later released near state border.
Rajasthan Police detained 12 members of the Tablighi Jamaat in Banswara district following a complaint alleging unauthorised religious preaching that reportedly disturbed public order.
The incident occurred in the Bagidora area, where a complaint was filed at the local police station on February 6. According to the complaint, a group of around 10 to 12 individuals had been moving around the area for the past two days and engaging in religious preaching without official permission.
Based on the complaint, police traced the group to a lane behind a local mosque. During questioning, the men identified themselves as members of the Tablighi Jamaat and said they had come from Godhra in Gujarat. They told authorities that their visit was aimed at spreading awareness about Islam in the village ahead of the upcoming month of Ramzan.
Police officials alleged that the group had not obtained prior permission to carry out religious activities and accused them of behaving aggressively during questioning. As a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, all 12 individuals were taken into custody.
The Tablighi Jamaat, formally known as the Society of Preachers, is a well-known Sunni Islamic missionary movement founded in India in 1926 by Maulana Muhammad Ilyas. The organisation focuses on personal religious reform and encourages followers to engage in voluntary outreach activities. It operates globally and is considered a non-political and decentralised movement.
After being produced before a local court, the detained individuals were granted bail. Rajasthan Police later escorted them to the Gujarat border, where they were released, effectively asking them to leave the state.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the sensitivities surrounding religious activities, especially those involving inter-state groups, and the need to follow local regulations related to public gatherings and preaching.
Officials confirmed that no further legal action has been initiated against the group following their release.
Source: Muslim Mirror
