Two Outsiders Nabbed in Bareilly Violence After Police Gunfight

Two men with extensive criminal records were arrested on Wednesday following a brief gunfight with police in the CB Ganj area of Bareilly, in connection with the September 26 communal violence that left several injured and sparked a statewide crackdown. Police identified the accused as Idrees and Iqbal, residents of the neighbouring Shahjahanpur district, both of whom sustained bullet wounds during the exchange of fire and are undergoing treatment in custody. The arrests bring the number of detained suspects to more than 70, including cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Tauqeer Raza Khan, his aides, and several family members.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya said the two men were “outsiders” called in by Nadeem Khan, an associate of cleric Raza Khan who is already jailed. Both have long criminal histories, with Idrees facing 20 cases and Iqbal about 17, including charges under the Arms Act and Gangsters Act. A police-issued anti-riot gun allegedly snatched during the clashes, along with two illegal pistols, cartridges, and live ammunition, was recovered from them. “Our probe confirms the involvement of external criminal elements. The incident appears to have been a deliberate attempt to disrupt peace during a sensitive religious gathering,” Arya said, while assuring that no innocent person would be harassed.

District Magistrate Avinash Singh said around 80 accused have been identified so far, with action being taken under the Goonda Act, cancellation of arms licences, and externment orders for repeat offenders. Authorities have also withdrawn the government-provided security gunner of a relative of Raza Khan. Meanwhile, police and municipal teams have sealed properties linked to Khan’s associates and demolished structures alleged to be illegal encroachments as part of the crackdown.

Also Read: Cross-Border Weapon Smugglers Apprehended in Fazilka Operation

The September 26 violence broke out when over 2,000 people assembled near a mosque in the Kotwali area after Friday prayers, following the cancellation of a protest linked to the “I Love Muhammad” poster row. Stone-pelting left several police personnel injured. Since then, police have lodged 10 FIRs against 180 named and about 2,500 unnamed individuals. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has warned of strict action, while state minister JPS Rathore said bulldozers will be used against illegal constructions linked to rioters, declaring, “No one is above the law.”

Also Read: Nurse Ruksana’s Acid Attack Mastermind Arrested in Dramatic Encounter