Allegations Over ‘Jalali Khatam’ at Goalpara Mosque; Committee Denies Prayers for CM’s Death

An allegation has surfaced that an Islamic religious ritual called Jalali Khatam was conducted at the Hedayetpur Tea Garden Mosque in Assam’s Goalpara district, reportedly praying for the death of the Chief Minister. The ritual was said to have been held on January 30 and February 7. A private satellite channel also aired a report claiming that the Jalali Khatam was performed. The incident was brought to light by the human rights organisation Legal Rights Observatory.

It has been reported that Imam Hafiz Ashikur Rahman and Hafiz Ismail Hussain led the Jalali Khatam prayers.

Responding to the controversy, the president and secretary of the mosque management committee issued a statement. According to them, such rituals are generally performed to free people from danger and are not intended to harm anyone. They claimed that someone may have misused the ritual or misrepresented the event. The committee also said it would cooperate with any administrative or police investigation if required.

Later, while speaking to the media, members of the mosque committee strongly denied the allegations. They said prayers are never performed to wish harm upon any individual and are meant only for the welfare of society.

“Allah has not taught us to cause harm to others,” committee members said, adding that praying for someone’s death would go against their faith. They also stated that if they were to pray for someone’s death, “Allah would not spare us either.”

The committee further said it would lodge a complaint against anyone who attempted to defame the mosque or its members.

Police have yet to issue an official statement, and officials say the actual facts of the incident will become clear after an investigation.
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