Meerut police warn namaz-on-road can lead to passport cancellation; Orwellian, says MoS Jayant Chaudhary

On Wednesday, Meerut police submitted a list of eight persons to District Magistrate Dr Vijay Kumar Singh, saying they violated last year’s order prohibiting namaz on the streets during Eid. Police have initiated steps for cancellation of their licences and passports.

Meerut City SP Ayush Vikram Singh said: “We have appealed to people that they offer namaz at a nearby mosque or reach the Idgah on time. We have given strict instructions that under no condition will prayers be allowed on roads.”

He said last year a few people had offered namaz on a road on Eid. “We registered an FIR against them… This time too if someone sits for prayers in the open, very strict action will be taken. We are making continuous appeals.”

Singh said in case a criminal case is registered against a person, it can lead to cancellation of licence and passport. The person booked, he said, will not get an NOC (no-objection certificate) to apply for a passport or licence.

Meerut range DIG Kalanidhi Naithani said violators will face immediate punitive measures, including case registration and possible arrest.

In Sambhal, SP Krishan Kumar Bishnoi said police have issued an advisory against performing prayers on roads. “Nobody will perform namaz on roads. Collective namaz in houses will not be allowed. People can offer prayers at their house. But they should be careful that there’s no untoward incident,” he said.

Aligarh SP Mriganik Shekhar Pathak said no specific order has been issued regarding Eid prayers. “We are going by the advisory of the UP government that no prayers will be offered in public places. A peace committee meeting was called and the advisory was conveyed to people,” he said.

Hathras SP Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said they too have not issued any specific order. “We will not be allowing anyone, irrespective of community, to offer prayers on roads or in any public place. It is a people’s festival and they can celebrate in their house,” he said.

Ghaziabad Police said if there is crowding, people will be asked to offer prayers in shifts. “We have deployed forces in all sensitive areas and near mosques and the Idgah… There will be continuous surveillance by drones,” Dasarath Nimish Patil, DCP, Trans-Hindon, said.