Kochi: The Ernakulam rural police on Sunday arrested 37 persons in two separate cases in connection with a minor clash over the distribution of pamphlets by Wisdom Global Islamic Mission in houses at Vadakkekkara in Ernakulam district. The cases were filed on the grounds that the content in some of the pamphlets could cause communal disharmony, the police said.
Ernakulam (Rural) district police chief A.V. George said all the arrested persons were booked under section 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of IPC. “We recognise the right to propagate the faith,” he said. “But, visiting households practicing idol worshipping with pamphlets depicting such practices are wrong is prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.”
According to the cops, local residents complained that a group of people, under the banner of Wisdom Global Islamic Mission, distributed booklets containing remarks against polytheism and inviting them to join Islam.
The incident came to light as a group disrupted the distribution of pamphlets in Moothakunnam area leading to a scuffle with those involved in the distribution. The local residents alleged that the group came to the area with maps having the location of temple and other places of worship in the area. A police team led by Vadakkekara CI reached the spot and brought the situation under control after taking the persons involved in the distribution of leaflets into custody.
A statement by Wisdom Global Islamic Mission said the pamphlets distributed by its volunteers contain the message of brotherhood. Denying allegations of spreading religious hatred, the statement said the organisation is committed to upholding mutual respect and helping each other even while keeping different faiths. The statement said the three pamphlets - Jeevitham Enthinu Vendi (What’s the purpose of life), IS Mathanizhidham Manava Virudham (Islamic State: anti-religion, anti-human) and Ore Oru India Orotta Janata ( One India, one people) - contained no remarks inciting religious hatred.
