Today, the entire Shahar Khass area, home to the Hanafi Sufis, mourned and protested after the tragic and shocking incident of the holy shrine of Hazrat Syed Baba Naseeb ud Deen Gazi, located near the Hanafi Jamia Mosque Sangam in Eidgah, Srinagar, being set on fire. Prominent Tasawuf scholars such as Renzushah, Adil Noorani, Ab. Ahad Makhdoomi, and thousands of devoted followers rushed to the shrine after the incident.
Protesters chanted slogans demanding justice for past attacks on religious sites, including the 1962 theft of Moi e Muqadas, the burning of Chrar Sharief Gousul Azam shrine, and other incidents, particularly the recent destruction of the Hazrat Reshi Gazi shrine.
The entire holy edifice, including the Roza Sharief Sanctum Sanctorum and valuable religious and Tasawuf books, was destroyed in this fire, which is believed to be the work of enemies of Tasawuf. A previous attempt to set the shrine on fire occurred just before Eid, but a devotee detected it, and local residents managed to control the blaze.
Local authorities, including the Sajadah Nisheen, the president of the shrine, and the Imam of Hanafi Jamia Mosque, reported the incident to the police, and an FIR was lodged. Prominent Sufi scholars, including Farooq Renzushah, chairman of Jamaat Aitqaad Hanafiya International, Mirwaiz Adil Noorani, and other leaders, gathered at the shrine to offer prayers and called for the protection of all Sufi shrines in Kashmir.
During their visit, they were shown the front door of the sanctum, which had been previously targeted. Despite their efforts, the perpetrators succeeded in setting the entire shrine and two sacred Chinar trees on fire. The incident brought the Shahar Khass area, especially Eidgah, to a standstill as a large number of devotees rushed to the scene.
In their addresses, Khwajah Farooq Renzushah, Mirwaiz Adil Noorani, and Abdul Ahad Makhdoomi described the incident as a severe tragedy and highlighted the ongoing threats to Sufi shrines in Kashmir since the 1962 theft of the holy relic. They urged the public to remain peaceful and called on the administration to apprehend the culprits and ensure justice, criticizing past efforts to cover up similar incidents.
Renzushah pointed out the lack of accountability for previous attacks, including the failure to identify those involved in the 1962 Hazratbal Conspiracy and the promotions given to officials implicated in past incidents. He also cited the twice-targeted Dastageer shrine and other shrines that have been attacked, emphasizing the need for thorough investigations.
He recounted a personal attack in 2012 when he was targeted after displaying a holy relic at the Dastageer Sahib Saria Bala shrine. The destruction of other historical religious sites was also mentioned, highlighting the lack of action by authorities.
Despite the efforts of distinguished personalities to maintain peace, there was surprise and disappointment at the absence of the Waqf Board’s Vice Chairman since the attack. The Ulmas criticized the Waqf Board for failing to install CCTV cameras at the shrine despite its substantial income and assets.
The community demanded an urgent investigation to identify and bring the culprits to justice, stressing the need to address radical ideologies that have led to such heinous acts against religious sites in Kashmir.
