Beed: Tension erupted at Ardhmasla village in the Georai Tehsil of Beed in Maharashtra on Sunday after an explosion at the local mosque. The incident occurred around 2.30 am and there were no injuries. However, a portion of the boundary wall and the floor was damaged. A large police contingent has been posted at the village to prevent any violence ahead of Eid and Ram Navami.
According to the police, a mentally-challenged person seems to have thrown some explosive material across the boundary wall. An unexploded gelatin stick was found at the site, an official said. This could also be an attempt by a miscreant to stoke communal tension in the area, he said. Superintendent of police Navneet Kavat is camping at the spot.
Both communities have been asked to maintain restraint during festivities. While Marathis are celebrating Gudi Padwa or New Year’s Day on Sunday, Eid will be celebrated on Monday. Hindus have also started observing Navratri from Sunday.
“This is an isolated incident and there is no conspiracy involved. We are looking for a single person. Any attempt to foment trouble will be dealt with strongly. The administration is providing all assistance to get the damaged portions of the mosque repaired before Eid,” the police official said.
Beed has witnessed communal strife in the past. According to a report released by the Maharashtra home department, 823 incidents of communal violence have been reported in the state in 2025. The affected districts are Beed, Nandurbar, Pune (Rural), Ratnagiri, Sangli and Satara. Recently, communal violence occurred at Nagpur over demands to shift Aurangzeb’s tomb from Sambhaji Nagar.
