Pune

In Maharashtra, a state with a sizeable Muslim population and culture of Iftar parties thrown by politicians and social activists during Ramzan, the Police in the cyber city of Pune took this occasion to cement its bonds with local Muslims and also project a role model to the community.

The Iftar party was held inside a mosque at Kondhwa’s Kausarbaug  – the largest and most famous Muslim-dominated locality in Pune – Police organised a grand Iftar for the common people.

Kausarbagh is well known for its food culture and people from different parts of the city regularly visit the place to enjoy a variety of delicacies. The largest mosque in Pune, located in Kausarbaug, is a key attraction.

However, this area has often been in the news for negative reasons. Therefore, the local police department takes special care and precautions on religious festivals in this region.

The grand Iftar Party at Kausarbagh, Kondwah

The police have maintained good relations with the local people. To reduce the gap between the police and the Muslim community and to build trust, various programs are organized throughout the year. One such initiative is the special Iftar organized during Ramzan.

The Iftar was organised by the Zone 4 division of Pune Police on the premises of Kausarbaug Mosque.

It turned out as the largest Iftar event in Pune; it was attended by 800 to 1,000 local Muslims.

 The 'Dawat-e-Iftar' was jointly organized by Pune Police and Markazi Baitul Maal in the Kausarbaug area of Kondhwa.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar attended the event along with Police Joint Commissioner Rajkumar Sharma, Additional Police Commissioner (East) Manoj Patil, and other senior police officials. DCP Zone 5 Rajkumar Shinde was the chief organizer of the event.

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar honouring SI  Tahseen Beg

The program was held in the courtyard of Kausarbaug Mosque. The mosque ground was full of  Muslim dignitaries. Senior police officers from Pune Police were present on stage. Local Muslim dignitaries and former and present-day corporators were seated on the stage.

The program was hosted by Tahseen Beg, a young Muslim woman recently appointed police sub-inspector. The intention behind giving her this responsibility was to inspire the Muslim community, especially the youth.

While addressing the gathering, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar thanked the Muslim community for attending in large numbers. He stressed the importance of cooperation between the police and the local Muslim community.

He highlighted the need for a joint effort to tackle issues such as drug abuse and gang violence in the area. He also explained how the cooperation of residents is crucial in eliminating illegal activities from the region.

During Ramzan, people from across the state visit the food stalls in Kausarbaug causing crowding in the area. The police commissioner assured that the police would extend full cooperation to the local traders and residents during this time.

As the Iftar announcement was made, the police commissioner fed dates to two young girls and broke the fast with them. Senior police officers on the stage also joined the Muslim community in breaking the fast.

Locals attending Iftar Party hosted by police

Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar specially honored Tahseen Beg, the newly appointed sub-inspector, during the event. The police’s initiative to showcase her as a role model for the Muslim community was highly commendable.

Speaking about the honour, Tahseen said,"I was overwhelmed by the honour bestowed upon me by the Police Commissioner in front of my community. I am happy and feel an increased sense of responsibility."

Explaining the purpose behind the honour, Tahseen added, "The idea was to send a positive message to society that even someone from an ordinary Muslim family can achieve great success through hard work. It was intended to inspire other young girls in the community to follow this path. I am grateful to my senior officers for this recognition."

Tahseen also expressed her desire that more Muslim youth should study for competitive exams and become officers to serve the community and the nation.

Salim Shaikh, a trustee of Kausarbaug Mosque Trust and a senior social worker from the area, explained the purpose behind the event. He said,"Kondhwa is known as the largest Muslim-majority area in Pune. Due to the population size, basic infrastructure is often inadequate. As a result, police assistance is often needed to address various issues, including traffic management. On the other hand, the police also require the cooperation of the Muslim community to maintain law and order. During Ramzan, the number of visitors to the area increases significantly. At such times, neither the community nor the police can handle the situation alone. Therefore, both sides need to work together. This event was organized with that objective in mind."

ALSO READ: Dubai: Firoz Merchant donates Rs 2,25 cr for prisoners' release, patients

Highlighting the significance of the event, Salim Shaikh added, "There is often an atmosphere of fear and distrust towards the police within the Muslim community. The police department has always made special efforts to bridge this gap, and Muslim social organizations have supported these efforts. Today's Iftar party was part of such an initiative. The fact that hundreds of residents voluntarily attended the event shows the success of this effort. Both the police and the Muslim community must continue to cooperate in the same way for the progress of society and the safety and prosperity of the area and the nation."