3 min readLucknowJan 20, 2025 05:28 AM IST
First published on: Jan 19, 2025 at 04:09 PM IST
Four people have been arrested on charges of disturbing public order for allegedly gathering at a private property in the Jam Samant village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district and offering namaz (Islamic prayer) collectively without obtaining permission from the authorities. It is alleged that the accused converted the site into a makeshift mosque by covering it.
Three others, including the village pradhan Mohammad Arif, who are also named in the case, are absconding. The police are conducting raids to apprehend them.
The incident came to light after a Hindu organisation shared a video of the location on social media. Following an inquiry, the police confirmed the allegations and registered an FIR against seven people, including Arif and other local residents, at the Baheri police station. The case has been filed under Section 223 ( disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“We have arrested four people, including the village pradhan’s brother Mohammad Shahid, and have invoked charges of breach of peace against them,” said Sanjay Tomar, station house officer of the Baheri police station.
The location where the accused were allegedly offering namaz collectively and using it as a makeshift mosque is owned by the village pradhan’s family. They have since locked the premises following police action, said SHO Tomar. The Jam Samant village’s population is predominantly from the Muslim community. Police forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.
Himanshu Patel, Bareilly district president of the Hindu Jagran Manch’s youth wing, who uploaded the video, said one of his associates recently recorded the footage. The video purportedly showed a group of people offering namaz and using the location as a makeshift mosque.
“There is neither a mosque nor a temple in the village. Residents have to travel to a nearby village to offer prayers,” Patel said. “I uploaded the video on social media and informed both the police and the district administration about the matter.”
Sub Inspector Ahmed Ali, the complainant in the case, stated that after reviewing the video, he visited the Jam Sawant village to conduct an inquiry. He discovered that a group of people from the Muslim community had gathered inside a walled area covered with a tin shed, where they offered namaz without prior permission. “This is not a mosque,” he clarified.
A police officer said the location had allegedly been used for joint namaz over the past year.
Screengrab from drone footage of people offering namaz at the makeshift mosque. (Image: X) 
Share
