The Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday detained cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan in connection with the Friday clashes in Bareilly.
Raza is the one who made an announcement postponing the proposed demonstration in support of the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign in the city, thus inciting a clash between a large crowd and police outside a mosque.
The police took more than two dozen people into custody following the clashes.
Speaking to reporters, Bareilly SSP Anurag Arya said, “In seven FIRs, Maulana Tauqeer Raza’s name has come to light. We will make it a part of our investigation."
“The police were assured that after the Friday prayers, no one would head to the Islamia Inter College, but they refuted their own claim and said that the signatures were forged, but in reality, those signatures belonged to those three people who had done those signatures," he said.
According to the police, a large crowd carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters and banners had gathered outside the cleric’s residence and near the mosque, both in the Kotwali area and located a short distance from each other, after the Friday prayers.
Some people also expressed their anger over the suspension of the demonstration.
WHO IS TAUQEER RAZA KHAN?
News agency PTI quoted sources as saying that Khan made a last-minute announcement to call off the demonstration, saying the authorities did not grant permission for it.
On Thursday, the cleric had warned that the demonstration would go ahead at any cost.
Khan has been politically active for more than two decades, with some influence in Bareilly and nearby districts.
He is also the direct descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan, the founder of the Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam, one of the most prominent sects in the subcontinent.
THE ‘I LOVE MUHAMMAD’ CAMPAIGN
Violence unfolded outside a small mosque adjoining the Islamia ground in the heart of the city and near the Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat, the most revered shrine for the followers of the Barelvi sect.
As the crowd attempted to march towards the Islamia Inter College ground, police tried to stop it at Khalil Tiraha, triggering stone pelting and vandalisation of vehicles and shops by the demonstrators, creating a stampede-like situation.
Visuals showed broken glass, scattered footwear and stones on the streets as police in anti-riot gear used force to disperse the crowd.
DIG Ajay Kumar Sahni told reporters that police were in touch with religious leaders for two days prior to the Friday prayers, which were conducted peacefully in most areas.
