In the wake of the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, several villages in Pune district’s Mulshi tehsil, Maharashtra, have enacted resolutions barring non-local Muslims from offering prayers in local mosques, particularly during Friday congregations. (Punekar News)
Villages such as Pirangut, Ghotawade, Wadki, and Lavale have displayed banners and public notices stating that only local residents are permitted to attend prayers. The resolutions cite “law and order concerns” due to increased footfall during Friday prayers. (Maktoob media, India Today)
Local Muslim communities have expressed fear and concern over these developments. Shaistakhan Inamdar, a resident of Lavale, mentioned that due to rising tensions, they have resorted to praying in a shed outside the village. (Maktoob media)
Fayaz Shaikh, Pune district president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), criticized the resolutions as unconstitutional and part of a broader pattern of alienation and provocation against the Muslim community. (Maktoob media)
Police officials have acknowledged the existence of these resolutions but stated that no formal complaints have been filed. They also mentioned that the measures have not yet breached any legal boundaries. (Maktoob media)
