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New Delhi: The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district detained 12 people on Sunday for allegedly offering namaz inside a vacant house without obtaining permission, officials said. The action followed complaints from residents of Mohammadganj village, who informed the police that the empty house was being used for religious gatherings over the past few weeks. Acting on the information, police reached the spot and stopped the prayers.
A video purportedly showing people offering namaz inside the house later surfaced on social media and has been taken into account as part of the inquiry, officials said. SP (South) Anshika Verma said the police took preventive action to maintain law and order. She stated that starting or conducting any new religious activity or gathering without prior permission is a violation of the law and warned that strict action would be taken if such incidents are repeated.
According to the police, the 12 individuals were challaned under sections related to breach of peace and were produced before a magistrate, who granted them bail. Efforts are ongoing to trace three other persons who are reportedly absconding.
Preliminary inquiries revealed that the vacant house belongs to a man identified as Hanif and was being used temporarily for Friday prayers. Officials said no written permission or valid documents could be produced when sought by the authorities. Police added that some villagers had objected to the regular prayers being held at the house and alerted the authorities, prompting the intervention.
