Muslim leaders and organisations in Coimbatore have expressed concern over police restrictions on the preparation and distribution of nombu kanji (a traditional Ramadan gruel) on mosque land near Coimbatore International Airport.
M. Abdul Hakeem, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), said a large number of Muslims reside in the SITRA area. As the Masjid-e-Taqwa building is small, worshippers often offer prayers on nearby government land close to the airport. He added that the jamaat had purchased five cents of land for the mosque and was planning to construct a new building there.
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Hakeem said that when members attempted to prepare and distribute nombu kanji this year, police intervened, citing potential law-and-order concerns. He stated that the matter had been taken up with the city police commissioner N. Kannan and district collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar in an effort to find a resolution.
A jamaat member maintained that no illegal activity was taking place. “We are distributing nombu kanji on the jamaat premises,” he said. He further alleged that whenever religious activities are conducted, members of certain Hindu organisations submit petitions to the police warning of possible law-and-order issues, despite no objection from local residents.
