Violence in Jabalpur over alleged disrespect to Quran

Muslims clashed with police here as rumours of alleged disrespect to the Holy Quran spread across the city.

Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), Aug 8 : Muslims clashed with police here as rumours of alleged disrespect to the Holy Quran spread across the city.

A police officials said to have shown disrespect to the Quran by putting it down on the floor, while frisking a visitor to a prison.

Within a matter of minutes, scores of Muslims protested in various parts of the city.

People pelted stones and clashed with the police. Many policemen and protesters were also injured in the clashes.

"Some miscreants started an agitation inside the jail which later spread to other parts of the city. Protestors also pelted stones outside Superintendent of Police's office," said Markand Deusker, Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur.

Shops were closed and police patrolled the city to check any further eruption of clashes.

Muslims believe the Quran to be the literal word of God (Arabic Allah) as revealed to Muhammad, over a period of twenty-three years by the angel Gabriel and regard it as God's final revelation to mankind.

A person whose recital repertoire encompasses the whole Quran is called a Qari' or Hafiz (a "reciter" or "protector" respectively).

The Prophet Muhammad is regarded as the first Hafiz. Cantillation of the Quran is seen as a fine art in the Muslim world.

ANI