High alert in Bareilly as security tightened ahead of Friday prayers, drones deployed, internet suspended for 48 hrs amid ‘I Love Muhammad’ row

The internet has been shut down, roads are empty, and heavy security has been deployed in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, ahead of Friday prayers at mosques. The city has been tense since last week when violence broke out after a protest over the “I Love Muhammad” poster was cancelled. After prayers, more than 2,000 people clashed with the police outside a mosque. The police later arrested 81 people.

Internet services in four nearby districts will stay suspended until 3 pm on Saturday, October 4. The shutdown started at 3 pm on Thursday, mainly because of Dussehra celebrations. The step was taken to stop the spread of rumours and prevent communal tension from rising through social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and YouTube.

According to a government order issued by Home Secretary Gaurav Dayal, all mobile data, SMS services, broadband and Wi-Fi connections will also remain blocked during this period.

Security tightened, drones in use

Along with the internet ban, security has been tightened in Bareilly. Police, PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary) and RAF (Rapid Action Force) personnel are patrolling the streets, while drones are keeping watch from the sky.

Divisional Commissioner Bhupendra S. Chaudhary warned on Thursday that all officers must take their duties seriously. He said strict action will be taken if there are any lapses.

High alert has also been issued in Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit and Budaun districts. Armed police have been deployed at sensitive areas to make sure that the violence seen in Bareilly does not spread to nearby districts, an official said.

How the ‘I Love Muhammad’ row turned violent

The trouble started last week when cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan called for a protest in support of the “I Love Muhammad” campaign. Around 2,000 people gathered outside a mosque in Bareilly for the demonstration.

But at the last moment, Raza announced that the protest was cancelled because authorities had not given permission. This angered the crowd, and soon clashes broke out, with people throwing stones at the police.

Ahead of this Friday’s prayers, Maulana Ahsan Raza Khan, the senior-most cleric of Ala Hazrat Dargah, has appealed for calm. He has asked people to peacefully return home after offering their prayers.

‘Go home peacefully after Friday prayers,’ senior cleric urges Muslims

Maulana Ahsan Raza Khan, the head cleric of Ala Hazrat Dargah in Bareilly, has appealed to Muslims to maintain peace and go straight home after offering Friday prayers. The appeal, made on Thursday, comes a week after violence broke out in the city following prayers.

“Every Muslim should return home peacefully after the Friday namaz. Do not believe in rumours and ensure calm is maintained,” Maulana Ahsan Raza Khan said.

The Ala Hazrat Dargah, considered the most important centre of the Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam, carries huge influence in Bareilly and nearby areas.

Last Friday, around 2,000 people had gathered outside a mosque in the Kotwali area after cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan called for a protest in support of the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign. However, the protest turned violent, leading to stone-pelting and clashes with the police.

So far, 81 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.