BAREILLY: Communal tensions flared in Bareilly on Friday, a week after the controversy over an “I Love Mohammad” poster in Kanpur, as protests spiralled into violence across several parts of the city.
Following Friday prayers, a large crowd gathered at Islamia Ground demanding to march in protest. When police attempted to block their movement, demonstrators pushed ahead, raising religious slogans. Violence soon spread across three police station areas—Sadar Kotwali, Premnagar, and Baradari—as stone-pelting erupted from rooftops and windows. Police resorted to mild force to disperse the crowd.
As clashes intensified, reinforcements were rushed in from adjoining districts including Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Pilibhit, Moradabad, Rampur, Amroha, Sambhal, and Bijnor. Police carried out flag marches across communally sensitive zones, urging residents to stay indoors.
Authorities urged residents to stay indoors while officers maintained a strong presence on the streets conducting flag march. The situation escalated quickly again as people began pelting stones at police personnel. Authorities resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells to control the mob. In Shahmat Ganj, protesters blocked roads and forced markets toclose temporarily.
Eyewitnesses described chaos, with people running in all directions as police tried to disperse them.
Police detained Maulana Tauqeer Raza, president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), who had called for the protest. Raza, accused in the 2010 Bareilly riots case still pending in court, had earlier warned that continued “injustice” could force Muslims onto the streets.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged residents to remain indoors and cooperate in their attempt to restore normalcy. Raza had warned that continued injustice could force Muslims to take to the streets, claiming the situation could spiral if ignored.
The lathi charge left debris, including scattered shoes and slippers, on the streets near Islamia Ground. As per the police sources, cops were deployed to monitor hotspots and were ensuring markets and public areas remained secure.
Residents were being advised to cooperate with authorities and avoid gathering in large numbers.