Bidar

Karnataka police on Friday arrested four persons in connection with the incident of Hindu activists barging inside the historical Mahmud Gawan madrassa in Bidar city and performing puja on October 5.

The Muslim organisations, which had earlier called for a protest after Friday prayers condemning police inaction, have called off the protest following the arrests.

Of the nine accused named in the FIR, Munna, Naresh, Yallalinga and Prakash have been arrested.

However, the Karnataka police is on a high alert in Bidar district and security around the Mahmud Gawan madrassa and Masjid has been tightened.

According to police, a group of Hindu activists who participated in the Dussehra procession in Bidar, barged inside the premises of the historical Mahmud Gawan madrassa on Wednesday night.

Considered as a heritage building, the madrassa is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was built in AD 1460 and features among the important monuments in India.

The photos and video taken that day show a big group standing on the steps of the monument. The police have lodged nine cases in connection with the incident.

A manhunt has been launched for the other accused.