Admn sent multiple notices to organisers of Islamic congregation
Around 15 lakh Muslims assembled in the congregation despite permission for 2 lakh
LUCKNOW: The Bulandshahr district administration issued multiple notices and warnings to organisers of the three-day Islamic congregation, Tablighi Ijtema, since December 1, officials said. The Tablighi Ijtema was held in Bulandshahr, around 40 kilometres from the spot, where violence broke out after the recovery of cow carcasses at Mahwa village, leading to the killing of an inspector and a youth on December 3.
LUCKNOW: The Bulandshahr district administration issued multiple notices and warnings to organisers of the three-day Islamic congregation, Tablighi Ijtema, since December 1, officials said.
The Tablighi Ijtema was held in Bulandshahr, around 40 kilometres from the spot, where violence broke out after the recovery of cow carcasses at Mahwa village, leading to the killing of an inspector and a youth on December 3.
The district administration claimed that around 15 lakh Muslims had assembled in the congregation held near Bulandshahr city between November 30 and December 2 despite the organisers having obtained permission for only two lakh people.
An additional district magistrate of Bulandshahr confirmed to reporters that two notices were issued to the organisers on December 1 and 2 over the large gathering but received no reply to the. He said a reminder was also sent to the organisers and they were asked to reply to the notices.
RK Gautam, a spokesman for the director general of police headquarters, said the Bulandshahr district administration had confirmed issuing notices to the organisers and warned about a huge gathering.
A Bulandshahr police official said the police and administration officials had also visited the venue of the congregation on December 2 and warned against any trouble due to the gathering of such a large number of people.
Police were also deployed at the congregation spot in apprehension of trouble following a gathering of around 15 lakh in three days, he added.
He said the police officials apprehended that the trouble could be caused during the movement of the participants. “Incidentally, Mahwa village lies on the road to Garhmuketshwar, Hapur and was used by many people going to and returning from the congregation. The violence would have escalated and led to communal riots if Muslims had got involved in it. The police, however, managed to avert the escalation of violence,” he added.
On Wednesday, director general of police OP Singh too had stated that although a police inspector and a youth were killed in the violence, the police acted fast and averted communal riots.