Police transfers over clash at mosque in Keralam’s Kozhikode draw criticism

A disagreement has arisen within the United Democratic Front (UDF) regarding the punishment imposed on police officers following a recent altercation at a mosque in Kozhikode district. Some members of the UDF have called for disciplinary action to be taken against those involved in the physical confrontations and abusive language that took place inside the mosque.

Youth Congress State Secretary V.P. Dulkhifil argued that those responsible for the dispute should be held accountable, suggesting they had called the police for assistance. Similarly, a number of local Congress leaders and Indian Union Muslim League activists have echoed this view. They contended that the police action may have sent a negative signal to society, appearing to shield the individuals at the heart of the dispute.

The disagreement originated from a long-standing conflict between mosque officials and a group of worshippers over the removal of religious preacher Abdul Rahman Faizi Ponmala. This dispute intensified during a Nabi Day event, leading to a verbal altercation and a clash between the factions. A Chombala police team entered the mosque to break up the melee and subsequently used lathi charges to regain control.

The incident provoked a protest from various groups, leading to the transfer of five officers, including Chombala Station House Officer P.P. Shameel. These officers were replaced by new appointees from the Kozhikode rural police headquarters. Some senior police officers protested the department's disciplinary measures, asserting that no errors were made by the transferred officers.

They maintained that the police had entered the mosque at the request of the mosque committee and acted to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.