Bareilly is under increased security measures in preparation for Friday prayers due to last week’s violent incidents triggered by the ‘I Love Muhammad’ poster issue. The district experienced significant unrest after a demonstration was canceled, resulting in nearly 2,000 individuals clashing with police outside a mosque and over 80 arrests. To avert further incidents, internet services have been suspended in Bareilly and three adjacent districts—Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, and Budaun—until Saturday afternoon. This suspension affects mobile data, broadband, and SMS services, as authorities are concerned about potential misinformation and communal strife during Dussehra festivities. Security protocols have been intensified, including a substantial presence of police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and Rapid Action Force (RAF) units, with drones deployed to oversee sensitive locations.
Bareilly has been segmented into designated security zones, and religious leaders are encouraged to instruct their congregants to leave peacefully post-prayers. The unrest was ignited when cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan called off a planned demonstration supporting the ‘I Love Muhammad’ initiative, leading to public outrage that escalated into stone-throwing and violent confrontations. In light of today’s prayers, senior cleric Maulana Ahsan Razan Khan has called for tranquility, urging attendees to return home peacefully after performing namaz.