Lucknow: Following Friday’s ‘jail bharo’ protest by supporters of local cleric Tauqeer Raza over Gyanvapi mosque, two FIRs were registered on Saturday under sections of rioting against several persons identified on the complaint of victims belonging to both communities in UP’s Bareilly.
A few anti-social elements pelted stones at some of the cleric’s followers while they were returning home after the protest, one complaint said. In another complaint filed by Kapil Kumar Sharma, he said he was on a bike to the market when “50-60 unidentified persons attacked him and vandalised the two-wheeler”.
A video also surfaced in which a few men could be purportedly seen throwing stones at people from the minority community. SSP Bareilly, Sushil Chandrabhan Ghule, said the accused will be identified and arrested soon.
Meanwhile, members of Vyapar Mandal (board of local traders) in Bareilly met senior cops on Saturday and demanded action against Raza as they claimed to have suffered a loss of Rs 15 crore due to the Friday demonstration.
In a memorandum to SP (city) Rahul Bhati, traders said Raza was responsible for communal riots in Bareilly in 2010, and on Friday he tried to disrupt the peace again. “Followers of Raza vandalised shops and tried to loot them in Shyamatganj market while returning from the protest site,” the traders alleged.
Heavy force continued to be deployed in most parts of Bareilly city with senior policemen maintaining a strict vigil. Police’s social media cell maintained a close watch as well.
SP (city) Rahul Bhati said, “So far, two FIRs have been registered against unidentified persons for two incidents of minor clashes. Accused are being identified with help of CCTV footage of the areas. Situation in the city is peaceful.”
Bhati added: “As of now, no FIR was registered against Raza or his followers
