A mosque in Tikri Brahmin village under Sadar Police Station limits in Palwal, Haryana, was set on fire late on Tuesday night when unidentified individuals allegedly broke a window and poured petrol inside while worshippers were asleep on the premises during the last ten days of Ramadan. The fire was brought under control before it could cause major damage or casualties.
The attack took place at around 1.25 in the night on March 11. According to the complaint filed by the mosque’s Imam, Zuber, he, along with Iqbal, Hanif and Sohail, were staying at the mosque in Itikaf, a practice of spiritual seclusion observed during the final ten days of Ramadan. The four men were asleep when they woke up to smoke and heat filling the interior of the mosque. They raised an alarm, which brought other villagers to the scene, and together they managed to douse the flames before the fire could spread further.
Case Registered Against Named Accused
On the basis of Imam Zuber’s complaint, police have registered a case against Ramroop and other named and unnamed accused. Palwal Superintendent of Police Varun Singla confirmed that the case had been registered under multiple sections and that a thorough investigation was underway. He said the Special Crime Unit and the Cyber Cell had also been brought in to assist with the probe.
Police spokesperson Sanjay Kumar said teams were scanning CCTV footage from the area and collecting information from local residents. He warned that anyone found responsible for attempting to disturb communal harmony would face strict legal action without exception. “Those trying to vitiate the atmosphere will not be spared, and once identified, strong legal action will be taken against them,” he said.
Residents Express Fear and Anger
Locals who spoke to The Observer Post described the atmosphere in the village as deeply unsettling. “The incident happened around 1.25 last night. Some extremists set fire to the Tikri Brahmin mosque. The situation is very bad. Why should Muslims be harassed? This is not right. This is taking the country towards civil war. There is a lot of oppression going on right now. How long will people remain silent? Now these people have started attacking mosques too,” one local said.
“This village has been in the news for years. The Hindu population is larger here. There was a riot before. Then in 2025, a riot was attempted by levelling allegations of religious conversion at the mosque, and several members of the Muslim community were imprisoned without justification,” the resident said.
Five to Six Police Teams Deployed in Village
As a precautionary measure, five to six police teams have been deployed in Tikri Brahmin village with continuous patrolling underway. The administration said the situation in the village was currently peaceful and under control, and appealed to residents not to pay attention to rumours and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
The SP assured that the accused would be sent behind bars at the earliest and that no leniency would be shown in a matter involving an attack on a place of worship during the holy month of Ramadan.
