New Delhi: The Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, was attacked by a 32-year-old man who tried to set him ablaze during Sunday evening prayers, police and witnesses said. The accused, said to be mentally unstable, was arrested.
The incident took place at the Jama Masjid when the man approached the Shahi Imam while the latter was praying, poured kerosene on him and tried to set him ablaze, younger brother Tariq Bukhari told IANS.
But the attacker failed to harm the Shahi Imam, one of the best known Muslim clerics in the country.
“The Shahi Imam did not receive any external injury,” Tariq Bukhari said.
“The man was later caught by the Imam’s security personnel and others who were praying. He was handed over to police,” he said.
He was identified as Kamaluddin alias Kamal, a resident of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.
Kamaluddin was taken into police custody but officials were yet to decide the charges under which he should be booked.
“Kamaluddin is believed to be mentally unstable. He poured kerosene on the Shahi Imam and tried to set him on fire with a cigarette lighter,” Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Goel said. (IANS)