Tension gripped the electricity section of Malegaon Nagar Nигam after a group forced their way to pray namaz inside the office, prompting swift police response. On February 26, wireman Mahendra Raghunath Sawant lodged a formal complaint with Nashik police, leading to an FIR against seven persons including Lukman and Salim Ekka.
The day began routinely with employees handling street light inventories. The accused burst in, berating staff for the inspector’s absence and demanding registers. Sawant explained the lights were already allocated per need, but the group stormed off only to return later, escalating matters by demanding prayer space within the premises.
Eyewitness accounts in the FIR describe chairs being flung across the superintendent’s room, with one hitting Sawant painfully. Defying objections, they spread a cloth for namaz, filmed the resistance, and threatened workers. The scuffle disrupted power department operations significantly.
Nashik rural police acted decisively, charging the group under relevant laws for vandalism, threats, and interference. Local leaders have called for calm, but the incident underscores fragile community relations in Malegaon, a town with a history of such flashpoints. Investigations continue as the community watches closely.