The JUH members were detained at Lucknow airport and were told to return to Delhi
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — The Uttar Pradesh police did not allow a delegation of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH) to meet the victims of communal violence which rocked Bahraich District last week.
Speaking to Clarion India, JUH Secretary Niyaz Ahmed Faruqi said members of the delegation, led by the organisation’s general secretary Maulana Hakimuddin Qasmi were headed to Bahraich but were detained at Lucknow airport on Saturday.
“The delegation members were released on Sunday but were told to return to Delhi. The delegation has now come back to Delhi. The police told the delegation that it couldn’t go to Bahraich as the situation there was not good,” said Faruqi.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Muslim organisation said the delegation was en route to Bahraich to extend support and aid to the victims of communal violence in the region.
“It should be noted that the delegation was dispatched from Delhi under the directives to Jamiat President Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, with the mission to meet with the affected individuals in Bahraich, assess their situation, and provide all possible assistance. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has always worked for the promotion of peace, harmony, and social cohesion in the country, and considers it its duty to support the oppressed, regardless of their religion or community,” reads the statement.
The Jamiat expressed deep concern over the action by the police authorities and questioned the reason behind obstructing representatives who were going to assist those in need.
“Our delegation was going to assist people so that the situation does not deteriorate and remain peaceful. We wanted to give encouragement to people and rehabilitate the victims so that the situation becomes normal,” said Faruqi.
On Saturday, Samajwadi Party leader Mata Prasad Pandey was also barred from entering Bahraich through an advance notice by the collector.
The Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly said he was told not to go to Bahraich as the situation may get worse there. “If something goes wrong, they will blame us. The organisation has also given me the same advice and the DM has also asked me to come only after three days,” Pandey said.
Violence erupted in the Maharajganj area of the district when 22-year-old man Ram Gopal Mishra was shot dead after he removed a flag hoisted on the rooftop of the house of a Muslim man and replaced it with a saffron flag.
Following the incident, the area witnessed various incidents of arson and vandalism, forcing the authorities to suspend the internet for four days. Several shops, houses and vehicles were vandalised. A car showroom was set on fire on October 14.
By Friday, the Uttar Pradesh Police had arrested 87 people in Bahraich in connection with the rioting and around 1,000 people were booked after at least 11 FIRs were registered in the matter.
The administration also served demolition notices to 20-23 houses. These houses belong to mostly Muslim families. The police also carried out an encounter shooting the persons accused of firing at Ram Gopal Mishra.
