Placed under house arrest ahead of visit to violence-hit Bareilly: Congress MP Imran Masood

Masood claimed, “On behalf of the party, Shahnawaz and I were to travel by train to Bareilly and planned to return within two hours. Yet, we were stopped with the excuse that the situation was ‘not good.’ How is it not good? We are peacemakers, we can calm the situation, not inflame it. People are being assaulted merely for showing posters… The truth is, the BJP is hiding its failures behind the smokescreen of communal hatred. They fear losing the 2027 elections.”

Saharanpur (City) Superintendent of Police, Vyom Bindal, said forces were deployed outside the MP and MLC’s houses after reports of law and order issues were received from the Local Intelligence Unit. “We have not put him under house arrest but have just deployed our forces,” said Bindal.

The Congress MP’s visit comes in the wake of violent protests in Bareilly, which erupted after Friday prayers on September 26.

Police had stopped people carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ placards from assembling and used force to disperse them when some in the crowd allegedly hurled stones and raised slogans. Police had said some protesters also opened fire.

The protest was allegedly called by Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) president Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. Tauqeer and 72 others have been arrested.

Masood also criticised Tauqeer, saying, “I strongly oppose political announcements being made from mosque loudspeakers. A mosque is a place of worship, not a platform to advance political agendas.”

He also alleged, “When in Muzaffarnagar, people destroyed eateries no action was taken… similar things happened in Fathepur. This is very selective. I had been getting calls that innocent people were being framed.”

Meanwhile, Tauqeer’s brother, Tauseef Raza, held a press conference on Tuesday night, stating that they have appealed to the administration that innocent people who were arrested should be released. “We have requested them to stop demolishing houses,” he said.

On Tuesday, local authorities had launched sealing and demolition drives against associates Tauqeer, who has been accused of “masterminding” the violence.

Security remains tight in Bareilly and other sensitive parts of the state. Flag marches were conducted, and police presence has been ramped up at religious sites and public spaces. The administration is also monitoring posts on social media and has announced fresh curbs on public gatherings under Section 163 of the BNSS.