Bareilly on edge after 'I Love Muhammad' row, markets deserted as police crackdown intensifies

Life has come to a near standstill following the clashes that broke out over the “I Love Muhammad” banners last Friday in Bareilly’s Old City.

Five days later, the markets wore a deserted look. Shops were seen open but without customers, while several homes in the violence-hit lanes were locked. Families of those arrested live in fear, uncertain about the future.

“We don’t know when things will be normal,” said Raza-ur-Rehman (70), who has been running a bookshop in the area since 1995. “There have been very few customers (since the clashes). There is police everywhere. The people are scared, nobody wants to come to this area,” he was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.

Another shopkeeper, Vinay Aggarwal, who runs a cycle repair shop, said business had dropped by at least 30%.

Police crackdown and fresh arrests

The police presence around Noumahla Masjid and Ala Hazrat Dargah in Bareilly’s Old City remained heavy. Authorities have so far arrested 82 people in connection with the violence. Among them is Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Khan, accused of “masterminding” the unrest.

The IMC district president Tazim was arrested on Tuesday after being shot in the leg during an encounter. Nine more were taken into custody, including Shahjahanpur residents Mohammed Idris (50) and Iqbal (48), both injured in police firing on Wednesday.

Officials claim Idris and Iqbal had snatched a constable’s weapon during the September 26 clashes and opened fire at the police. The Special Operations Group recovered the stolen gun, pistols, and cartridges from them. Police records show both men have long criminal histories.

The other seven arrested included Dr Nafees Khan (65), his son Farhan Khan (32), and five others. Police said they seized a laptop and phone from Dr Khan’s house, alleging he and his son were part of the mob.

Bareilly SP Anurag Arya said the crackdown was against those who attempted to incite unrest, and would continue. “An SIT is carrying out the investigation. We have also found evidence that some outsiders were involved in the incident,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying.

Opposition slams government

The Opposition has accused the Yogi Adityanath government of mishandling the situation. UP Congress chief Ajay Rai claimed the government was “not interested in peace” but only in “creating propaganda”.

Congress MP Imran Masood alleged that he was placed under house arrest to stop him from visiting Bareilly, though police denied the charge, saying they had only deployed forces outside his home for security reasons.

According to Masood, he and SP MLC Shahnawaz Khan only planned a short visit to promote peace, not escalate tensions. While criticising the government, he also condemned IMC chief Tauqeer for “making political announcements from mosque loudspeakers”, calling it wrong to use places of worship for political purposes.

Families in distress in Bareilly

The crackdown has left many families anxious. At the home of brothers Moien and Mubeen Siddiqui in Rohli Tola, their sister said both were arrested over the weekend though they were not present at the protests.

“We have been to the police station many times but haven’t even been allowed to see them,” she said.

In another case, Babli, the wife of IMC councillor Anis Mian, said her husband was arrested despite his efforts to calm people. His daughter added that her brothers had gone missing too. “We are only two women left at home. We don’t know what to do,” she said.

The administration has also launched demolition and sealing drives targeting associates of Tauqeer. Tauqeer’s brother, Tauseef Raza, has appealed to authorities to stop the demolitions and release what he called “innocent people” who had been picked up.

Islamia Market, usually full of cycle repairmen, mechanics, and bookshops, now has shopkeepers sitting idle. Customers are avoiding the area due to the police barricades and fear of more trouble. Locals say they rarely step out except for necessities. “Those who could, left after the violence. Those who stayed behind are scared to even come out of their homes,” said Shabban, a shopkeeper.