Internet services in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district have been suspended for 48 hours starting 3 pm on Thursday, amid the Hindu festival of Dussehra, PTI reported.

Mobile internet, broadband and SMS services will remain blocked till 3 pm on Saturday, according to a Home Department notification.

In addition to the internet shutdown, security has also been tightened across four districts in Bareilly division – Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit and Budaun.

This comes days after clashes broke out in the district on September 26, when a crowd carrying “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with police outside a mosque in the Kotwali area.

Home Secretary Gaurav Dayal was quoted as saying in the order that social media and messaging platforms could be misused to spread rumours and incite communal tension. The step was taken to maintain peace and public order, Dayal added.

To prevent any incidents of violence, Divisional Commissioner Bhupendra S Chaudhary also ordered increased vigilance at Ramleela grounds, Durga Puja fairs and Raavan Dahan events, all of which attract large crowds during the festive season.

Police, Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed in the region, and drones are being used for aerial surveillance, unidentified officials told PTI.

The unrest in Bareilly reportedly followed the last-minute cancellation of a protest called by local Muslim cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan in support of the campaign. He said authorities had denied him permission for the demonstration.

Police alleged that Raza delivered speeches that provoked the crowd. He was arrested on Saturday and sent to 14-day judicial custody.

Eighty-one persons have been arrested in connection with the clashes since September 26, Bareilly Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya said on Thursday.

Chandrashekhar Azad, Congress leaders stopped from visiting Bareilly

Lok Sabha MP Chandrashekhar Azad was on Thursday stopped by Saharanpur Police from travelling to Bareilly, PTI reported.

On Wednesday night, Azad had posted on social media that he planned to visit the district “to assess the current situation and meet the affected families”.

Additional Superintendent of Police Sagar Jain was quoted as saying that Azad had reached his home in Harijan Colony in Saharanpur on Wednesday night. The police reportedly asked him not to travel to Bareilly.

On Thursday, Azad posted photographs on social media showing police personnel outside his home.

He added: “If nothing wrong has happened to my Muslim brothers in Bareilly no injustice is being done then why does the Yogi [Adityanath] government want to stop me from going there?”

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders Danish Ali and Imran Masood had claimed that they were placed under “house arrest” while heading to Bareilly, India Today reported

Ali, a former legislator from Amroha on Wednesday claimed that he was confined to his home starting Tuesday night, adding that “the government is treading the path of dictatorship, misusing the police to intimidate people and snatch their freedom, livelihood, and sustenance”.

He posted images purportedly showing police personnel outside his home.

Masood, the MP from Saharanpur, alleged that he and Samajwadi Party leader Shahnawaz Khan were also prevented from visiting Bareilly, The Indian Express reported.

However, Saharanpur (City) Superintendent of Police Vyom Bindal told the newspaper that they had “not put him under house arrest but have just deployed our forces”.

Row over ‘I love Muhammad’ banners

The row began on September 4, when a group of Muslims held an “I love Muhammad” banner during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Hindu groups objected to the banner, claiming that a “new tradition” was being introduced at the procession.

The police claimed that government rules prohibit introducing new customs into religious processions. On September 9, the police went on to file cases against 24 persons, of whom 15 were unidentified, for allegedly introducing a new custom during the procession and disturbing communal harmony.

However, the police action sparked protests and processions with “I love Muhammad” banners in other districts of Uttar Pradesh and other states. Some of the protests led to clashes with the police, leading to cases being filed.

Also read: ‘BJP may reap benefit’: The politics behind ‘I ♥ Muhammad’ posters in Uttar Pradesh

📰 Crime Today News is proudly sponsored by DRYFRUIT & CO – A Brand by eFabby Global LLC

Design & Developed by Yes Mom Hosting