Since the introduction of the Wakf Amendment Bill, there has been a sense of fear among Hindus. The main concern arises from the possibility that the Waqf Board may lay claim to their houses, temples and agricultural lands. In today’s episode of DNA, Zee News explains this in brief.

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Tension Over Wakf Ownership Claims in Kadakol Village of Karnataka

In Kadakol village of Haveri district of Karnataka, a rumor spread that local temples and Hindu properties were identified as waqf properties. Villagers feared that their temples and lands might soon be transferred to the Waqf Board, leading to anxiety and social tensions.

Concerned about the potential for the Wakf Board to take over their property, the Hindu community expressed its anger and unrest spread in the village.

Hindu Protests Turn Violent

Videos that went viral on social media claimed that angry villagers damaged Muslim houses in protest. Reports indicate that clashes broke out between Hindu and Muslim residents in Kadakol after Hindus received news that the Waqf Board may soon take over their temples and houses.

The conflict reportedly started when some Muslims in the village filed a petition demanding that the Hanuman Temple and Durga Temple premises be designated as Waqf property.

The petition also requested that the lands surrounding these temples be included in the jurisdiction of the Waqf Board. Following this petition, the Zilla Panchayat allegedly started marking two temples and some houses belonging to Hindus as trust properties.

As soon as the news of this identification reached the Hindu villagers, they panicked at the thought of losing their homes and temples. In response, some villagers pelted Muslim houses with stones, leading to increased security measures and the arrest of about 32 people, mostly Hindus.

Official Verification and Claims of the Foundation Board

The district administration confirmed that the Wakf Board had submitted a list of properties to the Zilla Panchayat, claiming ownership. Under the direction of the Zilla Panchayat CEO, the properties in the Wakf Board’s list were going through the verification process. Representatives of the Wakf Board and Zilla Panchayat visited the village to identify and verify these properties, leading to widespread disturbance.

RTI Revelations

The concerns in Kadakol reflect a larger problem emerging in Karnataka. A recent RTI query revealed that the Wakf Board has claimed ownership of multiple historical sites in the state, further raising concerns over the expanding claims.

According to the RTI, the Wakf Board has claimed rights over 53 historical monuments protected by the ASI in Karnataka. These areas include important landmarks such as Gulbarga Fort, Gol Gumbaz, Bara Kaman in Bijapur and Bidar Fort. Notably, the Foundation Board had claimed ownership of 43 of these 53 monuments as early as 2005.

RTI findings show that the Wakf Board laid claim to these monuments without prior consultation with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Although ASI has declared the Wakf Board’s claims invalid, the Board remains reluctant and determined to relinquish its stake in these properties.

At a time when incidents like what happened in Kadakol are on the rise, the Wakf Board’s broad claims and powers have led to public outrage, especially in Karnataka. Critics argue that the board’s increased authority has led to property disputes, especially under current state administration.