Tension is still high in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, as the population gets ready for Friday prayers this evening. A lot of security people have been sent to the city, making the streets empty and shutting down the internet to stop the spread of rumors.
The increased security measures are a direct response to the violence that broke out last week during a protest over the “I Love Muhammad” poster row.
Internet services will be down till Saturday.
All internet services in the area have been shut down as a precaution. The clampdown started at 3 p.m. on Thursday and will last until 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 4. It affects SMS services, mobile internet, data, broadband, and wireless connections.
Home Secretary Gaurav Dayal sent out a notice confirming the ban because of the forthcoming Dussehra celebrations. Officials said that the main reason for the internet blackout is to stop people from using social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp to distribute false information and stir up tensions amongst communities.
Four districts are on high alert and security has been stepped up.
The Bareilly government has made its security plans much stronger. Drones are being utilized for aerial observation, and police, together with groups from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), are aggressively patrolling the streets.
On Thursday, Anshika Verma, the Bareilly SP South, led a flag march through vulnerable parts of the district to reassure the population and scare off any troublemakers.
The warning about security isn’t only for Bareilly. Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, and Budaun, which are close by, are also on high alert. An official said that armed police are being sent to vulnerable areas to make sure that the problems in Bareilly don’t spread.
On Thursday, Divisional Commissioner Bhupendra S. Chaudhary sent a harsh warning to all district magistrates, deputy collectors, police, and administrative officers to “discharge their responsibilities seriously,” making it clear that “Any lapse will invite stern action.”
The “I Love Muhammad” Row: The Cause of Last Week’s Violence
The protests were sparked by an appeal by preacher Tauqeer Raza Khan for people to embrace the “I Love Muhammad” campaign. About 2,000 people showed up outside a mosque last Friday after prayers to join the demonstration.
But things got out of hand when Khan said at the last minute that the protest was off because the authorities wouldn’t let it happen. The audience, upset by the sudden cancellation, quickly started throwing stones and fighting with police. The violence that followed resulted to the arrest of 81 persons.
Clerics Ask for Peace
People are trying to calm things down before this week’s perhaps contentious Friday prayers. Maulana Ahsan Razan Khan, the highest-ranking cleric at the Ala Hazrat Dargah, has openly called for peace and told local Muslims to leave right now and go home as they finish their prayers.