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Shahi Imam prevented from entering Aligarh
Bukhari was on his way to Aligarh, where six people have lost their lives in clashes earlier this week.
The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Bukhari was on Saturday detained by police in Ghaziabad, on the outskirts of the capital, to prevent him from going to tension-hit Aligarh.
Bukhari was on his way to Aligarh, where six people have lost their lives in clashes earlier this week that erupted over the question of prayers at a Hindu temple on the occasion of Ramnavmi, marking the conclusion of the nine-day Navratra festival.
"The Imam and a couple of his supporters were detained as we do not want to create any further inconvenience in Aligarh," said a police officer.
Trouble had erupted on Wednesday night when Muslims of an area in downtown Aligarh objected to loudspeakers being used in preparation for the next morning's prayers at Chamunda Devi temple.
However, following the intervention of senior citizens and local officials, things were settled and the use of loudspeakers was stopped.
But on Thursday morning, devotees began using the loudspeakers and violence erupted soon after.
What started with stone throwing between groups of Hindus and Muslims culminated in a free for all with bamboo sticks, steel rods and knives being brandished by both sides.
The Uttar Pradesh government has already suspended district police chief SK Verma and additional district magistrate Satya Bhan for "official lapses".
