Uttar Pradesh: Bareilly on High Alert on Friday; internet, SMS services suspended, drone teams monitoring sensitive areas
Uttar Pradesh: Bareilly is on high alert. After recent riots, the local administration is taking extra precautions for Friday prayers. To ensure safety, internet and SMS services have been suspended for 48 hours. Police and security forces are closely monitoring the city, making it feel like a fortress, which has created both a sense of security and unease among residents.
Last Friday, riots broke out in over ten locations after a call from IMC chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza. The police had to use batons and tear gas to control the situation. This time, the authorities are very alert. The city has been divided into four zones, each overseen by a superintendent. More than 8,000 police and security personnel are deployed to prevent any further incidents.
Seven drone teams monitoring sensitive areas
To prevent gatherings on rooftops, where stones were thrown during the last riots, seven drone teams are monitoring sensitive areas. Police Superintendent Anurag Arya has warned that any stones found on rooftops will lead to immediate action. Additionally, 200 plainclothes officers are mingling with the crowd to keep an eye on the situation and report any trouble.
Rioters were brought in from Bihar and West Bengal
The police have discovered that some rioters were brought in from Bihar and West Bengal. So far, 81 people, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza, have been arrested. To promote peace, local religious leaders have urged citizens to pray quietly and return home afterward. Senior officials, including ADG Ramit Sharma and Commissioner Bhupendra S. Chaudhary, have been patrolling the streets to reassure the public about their safety.
Prakash Kumar Pandey