UP Police Takes Preventive Action in Bareilly Over Unauthorized Friday Prayers
Police in Bareilly detained twelve people on Sunday. The detentions occurred in Mohammadganj village. Authorities acted on a local tip-off. They said the action was a preventive measure to maintain law and order.
Prayer Held Without Permission
Sub-inspector Anees from Bisharatganj police station provided details. He stated no prior permission was taken from the local administration for conducting the congregational prayer. "Considering the possibility of disturbance to peace, preventive action was taken against 12 individuals," he explained.
Senior Superintendent of Police (North) Anshika Verma spoke to the media. "We received a tip-off that a house has been turned into a makeshift mosque and a madrassa. This was illegal," Verma said. She confirmed those involved were instructed not to repeat such activity without proper permission.
House Owner Absent, Locals Express Divergent Views
The house in question usually remains locked. It belongs to a woman named Resham. Her husband, Haseen Khan, passed away several years ago. Locals report that Resham and her two children currently work in another state.
Resident Afser Khan shared one perspective. He said the village lacks a mosque. The nearest one is approximately three kilometers away. "Old people normally find it difficult to travel that far, particularly in this cold weather. For their convenience, prayers were offered in that house. This dispute has been created unnecessarily," Khan stated.
Another resident, Tejpal Singh, offered a different account. He claimed the house was being used as a makeshift mosque and a madrassa. Singh said he and a few others recorded videos of the activity and informed the police.
Police Deployment and Monitoring
Additional police force has been deployed in Mohammadganj village following the incident. Senior police officers said they are monitoring the situation closely to ensure peace and order.
