Arrest culprits, Muslim Jamaats request Parrikar

panaji: the association of all goa muslim jamaats has sought immediate government action against those responsible for burning the mosque and copies of quran, at socorro, porvorim, and has submitted an ultimatum to the government to arrest the culprits by december 24. the association, in an emergency meeting held on december 19, has expressed deep anguish and concern at the action of some anti-social and anti-national elements in burning, destroying and desecrating of the mosque on night intervening december 16-17.a letter written by the president of the association, mr shaikh mustafa kader, to the state chief minister, mr manohar parrikar, states that it was shocking that such an incident, first of its kind in goa, should happen in a place known for its absolute communal harmony. the copies of letter were released to press later in the evening. the letter further states that burning of holy quran and the desecration of mosque has left a deep scar in the hearts of entire muslim community in goa and that the community in goa is deeply hurt at the conspiracy to create communal disharmony. the association president has further said that it was shocking that no arrests have been made even after five days ave elapsed and has requested mr parrikar to immediately intervene in the matter and order high level judicial enquiry into the issue and book the culprits. the letter also states that it was appaling that certain high level political personalities have been giving inflammatory speeches targeting the muslim community and further vitiating the communal feelings. the letter further says that the muslims of socorro area have not been provided with security even after five days of the incident. it further states that though top level officials, who had visited the site, had promised immediate power connection and supply of water to the mosque, which unfortunately has not been done so far. a delegation of the association led by mr shaikh mustafa kader and accompanied by mr shaikh hassan haroon, the industries minister, called on the chief minister in his chamber at teh secretariat and submitted the letter seeking his intervention in the matter. our margao bureau adds: the federation of muslim jamaats and associations, in south goa, has appealed the muslims in the state to maintain calm and unity, in the backdrop of mosque desecration and burning of copies of quran at socorro, porvorim. claiming that few separatist and divisive forces are working in the state to disturb communal harmony, the meeting held at margao this morning said that all the muslims should exercise restraint at this critical hour and should not fall prey to their machinations. the federation has demanded thorough probe into the incident. at the meeting held today at margao, various representatives of prominent jamaats and associations of south goa condemned the act which took place on the eve of idd and sought immediate action against the culprits involved into the act. in another resolution adopted, the meeting also disapproved the act of two muslim youths who manhandled the union minister, mr shripad naik. "goa is a place of peace-loving people where religious harmony exists for centuries. the miscreants have not only destroyed the mosque but also made an attempt to destroy the principle of tolerance which is the gift of india to the world," resolved the meeting. federation termed the incident as highly "deplorable" and "condemnable" because it has the ulterior motive of creating disturbance and communal violence in the state. the meeting urged government to probe the matter thoroughly so that such incidents are not repeated in future. meanwhile, the confraria of our lady of socorro has in an emergency meeting held at socorro church has expressed its concern over the desecration and setting on fire of muslim community prayer hall in the village. in a press note issued here the confraria committee president, mr elman dias, has condemned the act of vandalism and desecration of prayer hall and expressed solidarity with muslims, over the issue. the committee has urged the government to trace the culprits and bring them to book. the diocesan authorities in goa have also expressed shock over the incident and condemned it. a press note issued by fr carmo martins, secretary of diocesan centre for social communications media, states that the government should take prompt action to bring to book those responsible for the acts so that a clear message is sent that such acts would not be tolerated.