A routine day at Malegaon’s municipal electricity department turned volatile when seven individuals stormed the office to offer namaz, vandalizing furniture and threatening workers, police say. Nashik authorities filed an FIR on February 26 based on wireman Mahendra Raghunath Sawant’s harrowing account.
The intrusion started with demands for street light ledgers. Lukman and Salim Ekka’s group harassed staff, who clarified allocations were handled by superiors. Undeterred, they returned near closing time, linking prayer to light demands and wrecking the cabin by throwing chairs—one slamming into Sawant’s leg.
Staff’s desperate interventions fell on deaf ears as the men prepared namaz on a draped cloth, recording videos laced with warnings. The pushback impeded critical utility services.
Police have charged them under sections addressing assault, obstruction, and damage. In Malegaon’s charged atmosphere, this underscores the need for designated prayer areas to avoid workplace conflicts. Ongoing inquiries aim to hold perpetrators accountable while restoring normalcy.