Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh continues facing communal violence from first March. Bareilly has been placed under curfew, which has been in force from 13 days. Several buses, buildings and shops were torched by rioters.
On March 2 communal tension erupted in Bareilly during Barawafat procession. On Monday police took Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan into custody.
Fresh violence was sparked off after cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan was arrested earlier for making inflammatory speeches & provoking a crowed for violence, was released from jail.
After release of Maulana Tauqir Raza Khan, the president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (Jadid). Peoples of a community defied the curfew and assembled on the road to register their protest over the release of Mulana. Maulana supporters were also assembled in huge crowd & shouting against other community. Soon after some time both community indulged in brick batting. The religious spots, shops and vehicles were targeted. Several vehicles and shops were set a fire by the mob in Kila, Baradari, Premnagar and Kotwali area. Extra police force was rushed to control the situation.
Bareilly Range IG Bhanu Pratap Singh said, “Curfew continues in the four police stations. The tension is easing day by day. The violence sparked out over public annoyance over certain issues. It is not communal violence, only one community is unhappy about certain issues. Arrested more than 300 people in the past many days. Perhaps proper assessment was not made before the procession for proper bandobast,”
Administration had planned to relax curfew on Friday from 6 am to 9 pm and again between 4 pm to 6 pm. As the situation again found more critical then district administration clamped curfew in Kila, Baradari, Premnagar, Kotwali area & Subhashnagar area.
The BJP leaders were demanding the release of the Hindu community leaders.
Situation is very tense in whole city & administration don’t want to take any chance which leads more violence. Local administration did not give permission for taking out the traditional Ram Barat procession. It is a traditional procession celebrated every year in this city.