Twelve members of the Tablighi Jamaat were arrested in Rajasthan’s Banswara district after police accused them of preaching religion without prior permission and behaving aggressively during questioning, officials said.
The arrests were made in Bagidora town after local police received information that a group of 10 to 12 men from Godhra in Gujarat had been moving around the area for the past two days. Police said the group had entered the town without informing the authorities and was carrying out religious activities.
According to the police, the men were stopped in a lane behind a mosque in Bagidora. During questioning, they identified themselves as members of the Tablighi Jamaat and said they had come to villages in the area to spread religious awareness ahead of Ramzan.
“They did not give any prior information to the police about their entry or activities in the area,” a police officer said. “When we tried to explain the rules, they became aggressive and started arguing with the police.”
Police claimed that the behaviour of the group created a tense situation, and there was a possibility of breach of peace at the spot. “To maintain law and order and prevent disturbance, we had to take action,” the officer said.
All twelve men were arrested under provisions related to preventive action under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. After completing formalities and searches, they were taken to the local police outpost under supervision. Police also said that the families of the arrested men were informed.
Later, the men were escorted to the Gujarat border, officials added.
Tablighi Jamaat is a global Islamic religious movement founded in 1926 that focuses on encouraging Muslims to follow religious practices more strictly.
