new delhi, Sept 30
Following the recent unrest in Bareilly after the controversy over ‘I Love Mohammad’ posters, the police and district administration have intensified their action, arresting on Tuesday Mohsin Raza, the son-in-law of Maulana Tauqeer Raza’s elder brother Mannani Miya.
Authorities also initiated demolition action against illegal properties linked to him, including a garage allegedly built on encroached land over a drainage system. His resort has also been sealed.
In another major development, the Bareilly administration sealed a marriage lawn owned by Haji Sharafat Khan, a close associate of the Maulana.
State Minister In-Charge JPS Rathore stated, “No one is above the law. Rioters will not be spared. Any form of anarchy, illegal occupation, or tampering with building maps will not be tolerated. Strict action including bulldozer operations will continue wherever irregularities are found.”
So far, 62 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Bareilly violence. These include Maulana Tauqeer Raza, Dr Nafees, and Nadeem Khan, all considered key masterminds behind the unrest. Police have seized assets worth approximately Rs 150 crore linked to Tauqeer Raza and his close aides. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is reportedly keeping a close watch and has ordered strict action.
According to police, former district president of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), Nadeem Khan, revealed during an interrogation that Maulana Tauqeer Raza had been planning to stage a large gathering at Islamia Ground after Friday prayers to demonstrate his influence. With the 2027 state elections approaching, the aim was reportedly to project himself as a strong Muslim leader in Western UP, hoping to attract attention from major political parties.
Police sources say Tauqeer Raza had been unable to mobilize significant public support over the past year and a half. The sensitive “I Love Muhammad” controversy that originated in Kanpur was allegedly used as a trigger to reassert his religious and political authority.
Nadeem Khan told investigators that he and Dr Nafees had forged a letter using fake signatures of IMC state media in-charge Liaqat Khan and submitted it to the police. This letter falsely claimed that the gathering had been cancelled, which was later disowned by Tauqeer Raza via a viral video, terming it a fake document.
Interrogation also uncovered internal factionalism among Tauqeer’s loyalists. One group, led by Nadeem and Dr Nafees, was reportedly closer to the Maulana, while another, led by Munir Idrishi, Anees Saklaini, and Ahsanul Haq alias Chaturvedi, frequently tried to sway his decisions.
Nadeem claims that after he and Nafees submitted the cancellation letter with Tauqeer’s consent, the rival group influenced the Maulana to declare the letter fake, which escalated tensions and ultimately led to the unrest.
After police placed Tauqeer Raza under house arrest, Nadeem fled to Shahjahanpur but was later apprehended. During questioning, he attempted to downplay his role, stating that he was merely trying to calm the crowd and had advised Tauqeer Raza against proceeding with the program without official permission.
However, police maintain that Nadeem remains a key accused and has provided crucial information that will aid ongoing investigations and lead to further arrests.
SSP Anurag Arya said, “The interrogation of Nadeem Khan has revealed vital information. The facts uncovered will significantly help in tracing other accused and progressing the case investigation.”
