Flowers scattered on the road in Shyamganj
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
In Bareilly, on the call of IMC (Ittehad-e-Millat Council) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, the crowd that came to arrest him could not do anything on the spot and resorted to anarchy while returning. The anger over Haldwani incident erupted in Bareilly. Maulana Tauqeer’s provocative statement added fuel to the fire. In the old city, the mob vandalized many shops and beat up people of other communities. Four people have been injured in this. The preparations of the police and administration proved inadequate.
IMC chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza, while marching on foot from Islamia Inter College ground, reached the Collectorate on Friday and called for arrest. IMC was distributing pamphlets and appealing to people to participate in it. The police had declared the program illegal and filed a report against unknown people who were distributing leaflets. Notices were issued to 30 people including Maulana Tauqeer. The police made the area of Biharipur outpost area where the residence of Maulana and his supporters, the mosque and the grounds of Islamia Inter College are located, a cantonment.
Crowd gathered in support of Maulana
The tug of war continued from 1 pm to 4 pm. Meanwhile, bypassing the security arrangements, a crowd of thousands of people reached the restricted area. After the symbolic arrest here, Maulana Taukir left, asking people to return home. However, the anger of the crowd was not subsiding. They were raising slogans against the Prime Minister and Chief Minister. When the police strictly removed the crowd from there, people returned in groups shouting slogans.