4 held in Kanpur after protest against Waqf (Amendment) Act

A heavy police force had already been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

In connection with Friday’s incident, the police have lodged an FIR against six named and 15 unidentified persons at Naubasta police station. “Based on available evidence, we have arrested four people, and raids are underway to trace the remaining accused,” Chitranshu Gautam, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Kanpur, said.

On Friday, as a group began protesting near the mosque, the police apprehended several of the demonstrators. However, many managed to flee the spot. Senior officers rushed to the location after receiving information about the protest.

A preliminary inquiry revealed that pamphlets opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act had been circulated a day before the incident, urging people to gather in large numbers at the mosque during Friday prayers, the police said.

Soon after the prayers concluded, a group assembled outside the mosque carrying banners and began raising slogans, Santosh Kumar Singh, Station House Officer, Naubasta police station, said.

The police have also found that one of the accused allegedly urged members of a WhatsApp group to gather at the mosque in large numbers on Friday. The person who allegedly circulated the message was identified and detained, the ACP said, adding that in addition, the owner of the printing press that published the pamphlets used during the protest was also booked.

The incident comes against the backdrop of protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Muzaffarnagar last week, following which over 300 people were served notices by the district administration. The protesters had worn black armbands while offering prayers at a local mosque last Friday and again on Eid three days later. The notices were issued by City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap, following reports submitted by the local police, officials said.