Tensions erupted in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday as followers of Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, who is also the chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, courted arrest to protest the killings in Haldwani the previous night.
Stone-pelting incidents occurred, leading to a significant deployment of police and paramilitary forces.
According to Hindustan Times, on Thursday, Raza had called for a ‘Jail Bharo’ protest, urging his supporters to willingly get arrested in connection with the Gyanvapi mosque dispute and on Friday, the cleric was detained by Uttar Pradesh police.
On Thursday, Raza Khan declared his intention to surrender for arrest in protest against Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s statement in the Assembly, suggesting that Muslims should voluntarily relinquish their claims on the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura
The Moulana also courted arrest to protest the killings and brutality against Muslims protesting the demolition of a madrasa in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
Markets in Bareilly remained shut throughout the day. Approximately 1,000 police personnel were on the ground to maintain law and order, stationed at crucial intersections, mixed-population areas, and entry and exit points of the city.
Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar, mentioned that an alert was issued in the state following the Haldwani incident. He emphasized the need for caution, and deployments were made in districts bordering Uttarakhand.
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