Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district on January 18, detained 12 people for allegedly offering namaz inside a vacant residential house in Mohammadganj village without official permission, officials said. The police action came amid local objections and concerns over the premises being used regularly for religious gatherings.
According to the police, the house belongs to a man identified as Hanif and had been lying vacant. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the premises were being used for Friday prayers for the past several weeks, allegedly functioning as a temporary madrasa without any written approval or valid documentation.
Superintendent of Police (South) Anshika Verma said the police acted after receiving information from residents of Mohammadganj village, who alleged that a vacant house was being used regularly for religious activities.
“Conducting any new religious activity or gathering at a place without permission is a violation of the law. Precautionary action was taken to maintain peace and law and order,” SP Verma said. She also appealed to all communities to maintain harmony and avoid activities that could disturb public order.
Police officials said some villagers had objected to the regular prayers being conducted at the house and subsequently informed the authorities. Acting on the inputs, a police team reached the spot and stopped the gathering to prevent any escalation of tensions in the area.
A video purportedly showing people offering prayers inside the vacant house surfaced on social media and is being widely circulated. Police said the video has been taken into account as part of the investigation to verify the sequence of events and the nature of activities being carried out at the premises.
“The video is being examined to ascertain the facts and identify those involved,” an official said, adding that social media circulation had further heightened local sensitivities.
The 12 detained persons were challaned under sections related to breach of peace and preventive action. They were later produced before a magistrate, who granted them bail, police said.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to trace three other individuals who are allegedly involved in the matter and are currently absconding. Police teams have been deployed to locate them, officials added.
Police said that when asked to produce written permission or documents authorising the use of the house for religious purposes, those present at the site failed to do so.
“No written permission or valid documents could be produced to justify the use of the vacant house for conducting prayers,” an official stated.
Authorities reiterated that the action was preventive in nature and aimed at ensuring that law and order are maintained in the village.
