Communal flare-up in Bareilly area after imam’s statement

Police force was deployed in Deorania area of Bahedi block here after tension erupted between Hindus and Muslims over a controversial remark by an imam on Thursday afternoon.

“It all began when Imam Rashid, head imam of Noori Mosque in Ganunagla village of Deorania, issued some controversial statements on the loudspeaker of the mosque,” said Yamuna Prasad, SP (rural), Bareilly. The statement allegedly referred to Hindu deities and festivals and showed them in poor light which enraged people of Hindu community of the area.

Following this, a group of people from the Hindu community reached the mosque to protest against the imam. They were accompanied by others from the community who surrounded the mosque and demanded an apology from the imam.

According to the police, a few miscreants from both sides raised defamatory slogans which led to minor skirmishes between them. Consequently, over 400 men from both communities gathered near the mosque.

Sensing trouble, the station Officer (SO) of Deorania police station reached the mosque with his team to control the situation. “Senior police officials along with additional forces from nearby police stations were also sent there on the demand of the SO,” said the SP.

Police officials who reached the mosque, with help of the representatives of the Muslim community, removed the imam from his post. A police case was also registered against nine men, including the imam, under Sections 295A (deliberate malicious act to outrage religious feelings), 298 (uttering words with deliberate intent to hurt religious feelings) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The officials also assured the protesters of strict action against the accused and managed to defuse the situation.

According to police officials, the situation in the village was currently peaceful and under control.