Mosque desecrated in India amid rising attacks on Muslims
Liquor bottles, fire damage, and warning note found inside mosque, triggering concerns over intimidation of Muslims and growing Hindu nationalist targeting
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A mosque in India’s northeastern state of Tripura was desecrated last week in an incident that has intensified concerns over religious intimidation and the targeting of Muslim communities amid rising Hindu nationalist activism.
The attack occurred on December 24 at Mainama Jame Masjid, located in a rural area of Tripura’s Dhalai district. According to local residents and mosque officials, unidentified individuals entered the mosque premises, placed liquor bottles inside the prayer area, and attempted to set parts of the structure on fire. The incident came to light when the mosque’s imam arrived and discovered the damage and objects left behind.
According to the Indian media, a handwritten warning note and a flag associated with Hindu militant outfit Bajrang Dal were also found inside the mosque compound. The note reportedly contained threatening language and religious slogans, warning of further consequences and suggesting future violence.
Residents and mosque representatives described the act as deliberate and calculated, saying the placement of liquor bottles inside a mosque — forbidden in Islam — appeared intended to insult religious beliefs and provoke fear. They also said parts of the structure showed signs of having been set alight, though the fire was extinguished before it could spread further.
Community members told local reporters that the timing of the attack was particularly alarming, as no one was inside the mosque at the time due to a community program elsewhere. They said the incident could have resulted in casualties had it gone unnoticed for longer.
Local Muslims said the desecration has unsettled an area known for religious diversity, where Christians and Buddhists form significant portions of the population alongside Hindus and Muslims.
Residents stressed that communal relations in the region have historically been peaceful, but warned that the involvement of hardline groups risks undermining longstanding coexistence.
Following the incident, the mosque committee submitted a formal complaint to local police, alleging that the act was intended to inflame anti-Muslim sentiment and urging authorities to register a case and identify those responsible. Police officials confirmed the recovery of the liquor bottles, flag and threatening note and said the matter was under investigation.
However, as of the latest updates, no arrests had been announced, prompting concern among rights advocates about delays in accountability. Analysts say such incidents reflect a broader pattern across parts of India, where symbolic attacks on places of worship are increasingly used to intimidate minorities and test the limits of state response.
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