Tension in Bareilly over non-veg joint
Communal tension flared up in Kila area here when a drunk Hindu man hurled abuses at the Muslim owners of a new non-vegetarian restaurant. The man told the owners to close the joint and caused ruckus late on Wednesday night. Other people gathered near the shop in support of the man, inviting a crowd from the Muslim community. Arguments followed and police were called in.
“We arrested the accused who allegedly started the trouble and have registered a police complaint regarding the incident,” said SP (City) Sameer Saurabh.
The non-veg food joint which started eight days ago is located at the corner of the alley leading to Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat. It is also a stone’s throw away from the local police post (Malukpur). There is a small temple to its south. Reportedly a few Hindu residents objected to the restaurant, saying it was opened illegally without the required permits. “They throw the leftover bones on the road and outside our temple,” said a Hindu resident who lives in the vicinity.
“The restaurant owners do not posses any registration or permit and we have sent the details to administrative officials who will take the final call,” said the SP.
However, Muslims call it ‘food policing.’ “It is wrong on the part of the police to involve the restaurant when the brawl was started by someone from the other community. This is clearly food policing and we will not let it happen,” said Asjad Raza Khan, a seat-bearer at the Dargah. Additional cops and a battalion of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed to ensure peace in the area.