Bareilly violence key witness claims accused hatched plot inside jail to kill him, police say ‘contract killer’ arrested

Police said they have recovered a country-made pistol and Rs 20,000, suspected to be part of the money paid for the alleged contract killing.

Anurag Arya, Senior Superintendent of Police, Bareilly, said the allegations made by Firdaus in his complaint appear to be true, and have been corroborated by Furqan during the latter’s questioning.

A police officer said that Firdaus had played a key role in assisting the police during the investigation of the September 26 violence in Bareilly, helping to identify the accused involved through videos and photographs. He is also one of the witnesses in the case, the officer said.

According to the police, the complainant stated that he lives near the house of local corporator Anees Saklani, who, he alleged, is a close associate of Maulana Tauqeer Raza, the president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC). Both Tauqeer Raza and Anees Saklani, who is also an office-bearer of the IMC, are among those arrested in connection with the violence and are currently in jail.

Firdaus Khan alleged that during the clashes, he helped the administration and the local community in maintaining peace. He stated that during the subsequent investigation, the names of local corporator Anees Saklani and his associates came up.

According to the complainant, the accused, including Anees Saklani, believed he had identified them to the police and had given testimony against them in court, leading them to develop a grudge against him, said the police.

However, police clarified that no statement from Firdaus has been recorded in court so far.

Firdaus further alleged that on December 18, Adnan, the son of corporator Anees Saklani, along with his associates, stopped him, abused him, and threatened him. They allegedly accused him of being responsible for their leaders being in jail and claimed that they were forced to stay away from their homes due to fear of police action.

According to the complainant, the accused also told him that they had already spent Rs 8–10 lakh on court proceedings but had not received any relief so far. He alleged that they demanded he arrange Rs 10 lakh within two days, warning of serious consequences if he failed to comply, before leaving the spot.

The complainant alleged that when he shared the threat with his brother, the matter was downplayed, and as a result, the family did not take any immediate action.

According to the police, the complainant alleged that on December 26, a person known to him, Bhura Tuttal, informed him that Yasmeen Jahan, the wife of Anees Saklani, along with her son Adnan and other associates, went to the jail to meet Anees Saklani, Faizul Nabi and Moin, who are accused in violence cases. He claimed that while others waited outside, Yasmeen Jahan alone entered the jail to meet them.

The complainant further alleged that inside the jail, Anees Saklani and the two other accused, with the backing of senior leaders of the IMC, conspired and instructed Yasmeen Jahan to have Firdaus killed.

He also alleged that the accused told Yaseem that anyone who came in the way should be dealt with in the same manner, so that no one would dare to testify against them.

He alleged that after the conspiracy was hatched, the accused struck a deal with a man named Furqan from Pilibhit district to have him killed for Rs 5 lakh. According to him, a part of the amount had already been paid as an advance, and the contract killer was seen roaming near his house.

Based on Firdaus Khan’s FIR, nine people have been booked in the case, including Yaseen and their son Adnan.

According to police, Furqan, who is educated up to Class III and has 10 criminal cases registered against him, told them he came in contact with Anees Saklani in 2022 when he was lodged in Pilibhit jail. Saklani was in the same jail in a rape case.

“The two allegedly became close friends. After being released from jail, Furqan did not return to Pilibhit. Instead, he shifted to Bareilly, where he opened a tea stall and also moved his family to a rented house. Furkan claimed that on December 22, two women came to meet him. He recognised one of them as Yasmeen, as she had earlier visited Pilibhit jail to meet Saklani,” said a police officer.

Quoting Yasmeen, Furqan said Anees and his associates told her that they were troubled by Mohammad Firdaus and wanted him to be killed, stating that as long as Firdaus remained alive, their bail would not be possible, said a police officer.

Furkan said that Yasmeen handed him a bag containing some cash, a country-made pistol and cartridges, and began keeping a watch on Firdaus, the police officer added.

Bareilly clashes

On September 26 last year, violence erupted in Bareilly after the police stopped a group of people carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ placards from gathering after Friday prayers. When some people protested, the police reportedly used force to disperse them, which led to chaos. According to reports, some members of the crowd threw stones, raised slogans, and even fired at the police.

The protest came after the police in Kanpur had booked nine people over ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters and a lightboard displayed for the Barawafat procession in August, which commemorates the birth of the Prophet.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), is among those arrested in the case and is currently in jail. The investigation into the case has been completed and the police have filed a chargesheet against the accused.