Controversial cleric sacked as head of Kolkata mosque

Maulana Noor-ur Rehman Barkati, the controversial Shahi Imam of the city's Tipu Sultan Mosque, who had threatened 'jihad' and refused to take off the beacon from his vehicle, was on Wednesday sacked from the post.

The sacking comes two days after a police complaint was lodged against Barkati by the mosque's trustee board.

A two-page "notice of termination of service" was issued to Barkati by Arif Ahmed, trustee of Prince Gholam Mohammad Waqf Estate here.

The letter pulled up Barkati for not responding to two requests for explaining his conduct and failing to respond to the show cause notice issued to him.

"Subsequent to the show cause notice, you have physically abused the co-trustee and made comments that can incite the people to violence," the letter said.

The termination comes into effect from Wednesday.

--IANS

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