Bareilly Remains Calm While Samajwadi Party Delegation Faces Restrictions

Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly observed a calm Friday despite an ongoing internet blackout imposed after last week's violent protests, as authorities ramped up security measures to prevent any escalation. Congregational prayers proceeded peacefully across all mosques, with heavy police deployment, flag marches, and drone surveillance ensuring order. Local clerics urged worshippers to return home immediately after services, contributing to the serene atmosphere. The restrictions, including suspended mobile and broadband services, stem from unrest triggered by the controversial "I Love Muhammad" poster campaign, highlighting persistent communal sensitivities in the region.

A Samajwadi Party (SP) delegation, led by senior leader Masood Akhtar, was barred from entering the city to assess the situation, prompting accusations of administrative overreach. Akhtar received a notice from Bareilly District Magistrate Nitin Bansal, warning that the visit could "spoil the atmosphere" and exacerbate tensions. Akhtar criticised the move as an attempt to conceal official lapses, stating, "To hide their own shortcomings, they are not allowing us to go there." The SP plans to consult party members before deciding on next steps, underscoring political friction amid the crackdown.

District Magistrate Avinash Singh confirmed the smooth conduct of prayers, crediting public cooperation and meticulous zoning—dividing the city into super zones, zones, and sectors for targeted monitoring. "People fully cooperated with police and the administration," Singh told PTI, noting the use of foot patrols and appeals from religious leaders.

Meanwhile, Bareilly Development Authority Vice-Chairman Manikandan A announced that a list of immovable properties belonging to those involved in the September 26 violence is under preparation, signalling impending asset seizures as part of punitive measures. By Wednesday, 81 individuals had been arrested, with ten FIRs filed, mostly against unidentified persons.

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The unrest originated on September 26, when around 2,000 people assembled outside a Kotwali mosque following cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan's call for a demonstration supporting the "I Love Muhammad" posters. Chaos erupted after Khan abruptly cancelled the event, leading to a lathi charge by police and retaliatory stone-pelting near his residence and a local mosque. Khan, his aides, and relatives were among those arrested.

The controversy traces back to September 9, when an FIR targeted 24 individuals for displaying the posters during a Barawafat procession on September 4—a move decried by Hindu groups as deliberate provocation. This incident reflects broader debates on religious expression and inter-community harmony in northern India, where such flashpoints often strain law enforcement resources.

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