Protest after Friday prayers: Gunshots fired, stones hurled as crowd clashes with police in Bareilly

Bareilly Additional SP Manush said some protesters opened fire at a few places and there were clashes at eight-nine locations. He said cartridges and vehicles were damaged and police barricades dismantled during the clashes. Several policemen were injured and an FIR was being registered, he said.

Bareilly DM Avnish Singh said, “Over 15 to 20 people have been arrested. At least 10 police personnel were injured in the clashes and are currently receiving medical treatment.”

Bareilly: Security personnel lathi-charge protesters during a demonstration over the issue of ‘I Love Mohammad’ posters, in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. (Source: PTI Photo)

Video clips of the incident that surfaced online showed police chasing protesters, some falling on the ground and the area strewn with slippers, shoes and posters.

There have been similar protests in other cities after Kanpur police lodged an FIR following a spike in tensions during the Barawafat procession to commemorate the birth of the Prophet – police said Friday the Kanpur FIR was not over the installation of an ‘I love Muhammad’ board, but over an incident in which religious posters were torn.

In a statement, Bareilly police said that on September 21, the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, Bareilly, asked people to gather at the Islamia Ground after the Friday prayers. The administration did not grant permission for this and informed the council, both verbally and in writing.

On Friday, police stopped people and explained the situation to them. Most people dispersed. “However, some persons, in violation of Section 163 of the BNSS (power to issue order in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) attempted to move towards Islamia Ground. The police warned them and tried to control the situation, but a few miscreants showed aggression and threw stones at the police. Using minimal force, police dispersed the crowd. Based on video and CCTV footage, the miscreants will be identified and strict action will be taken. Residents of the district are urged not to pay attention to any rumour or misleading information,” the police statement said.

Ittehad-e-Millat Council president Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan had asked people to assemble. Later, a letter was issued saying he had rolled back his earlier call due to lack of police permission for the assembly.

“… Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Hazrat Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan Sahib has promised to submit a memorandum to the President of India (on the ‘I Love Mohammad’ issue) through appropriate channels at the appointed time after the Friday prayers on September 26. However, due to the government not granting permission… the Maulana will submit his memorandum himself,” the letter stated, adding

“You are all requested to pray in the mosques and return home. There will be no programme at the Islamia Inter College grounds; there is no need to go there. We also want peace and harmony in our city, and we request your cooperation.”

But some people gathered after the Friday prayers and raised slogans, attempting to march towards the Islamia Ground.

District Magistrate Singh said, “Authorities had already informed the organisers that due to the imposition of Section 163 BNSS across the district, no public gathering or procession would be allowed without prior permission.”

“Despite the advisory, a few individuals attempted to gather immediately after the Friday prayers and disrupt the atmosphere. Specific locations such as Khalil Tiraha, outside Navmela Masjid, and Shayamat Ganj witnessed some unrest,” he said.

Police said Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan was being questioned. Members of the Council have distanced themselves from the incident, saying it was the result of a “miscommunication”.