Critics accuse the authorities of attempting to silence voices of dissent and stifle the truth about the violence
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – Influential cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan was detained by police on Friday as he attempted to visit the families of those killed during the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred on the Bareilly-Delhi National Highway, when police stopped his convoy in front of the CB Ganj police station, and detained him along with several of his supporters.
Maulana Tauqeer Raza, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), announced his intention on Thursday to meet the grieving families in Sambhal following the Friday prayers. He planned to travel to the area with his supporters, intending to console the families and provide support. However, upon reaching the CB Ganj police station in Bareilly, the convoy was stopped by police, and Maulana Tauqeer was taken out of his car, arrested, and placed in police custody.
Speaking about the situation, Maulana Tauqeer Raza said, “I am not going to Sambhal to engage in politics. My followers from Bareilly live there, and I want to meet them. I want to tell them that this is not a Hindu-Muslim conflict, but rather the result of police dishonesty and government injustice.”
The IMC chief went on to claim that the violence in Sambhal was instigated by the police and administration, accusing them of inciting unrest and putting pressure on the people of the region. “The administration is trying to cover up its wrongdoings and suppress the truth. There has been no Hindu-Muslim riot in Sambhal. Everything that has happened was orchestrated by the police,” he said.
The police, however, justified the detention, stating it was necessary to maintain law and order in the area. Officer Pankaj Srivastava, who oversaw the detention, commented, “In the interest of maintaining peace and ensuring security, Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan and his 20 to 25 supporters have been stopped at the CB Ganj police station. They will not be allowed to proceed further.”
The officer emphasised that the police were prioritising state-wide law and order and that the authorities had acted within their rights to prevent potential unrest.
As tensions continue to rise over the events in Sambhal, the detention of Maulana Tauqeer Raza has drawn strong reactions from his supporters and local leaders. Critics of the government and police accused the authorities of attempting to silence voices of dissent and stifle the truth about the violence. The situation remains tense, and the police presence in the region has been significantly increased.
The IMC chief’s detention marks a new chapter in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Sambhal violence, with many questioning the role of the police and local authorities in escalating the situation.
