The security has also been increased with heavy police deployment as the protests mark a week today.
The government suspended mobile internet, broadband, and SMS services from 3 pm on Oct 2 till 3 pm on Oct 4, according to department of home affair’s notification, reported news agency PTI.
Home Secretary Gaurav Dayal stated that social media platforms such as WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook among others, could be misused to incite communal violence and spread rumours.
All the services including mobile internet, SMS, data servers including broadband connections will remain suspended, as per the order.
‘Go home peacefully,’ urges Muslim clericÂ
Senior-most cleric of Ala Hazrat Dargah area Maulana Ahsan Razan Khan, appealed to all the Muslim locals to return to their homes after Friday prayers today to “maintain peace”.
“Every Muslim, after offering Friday prayers, must return to their homes. Do not pay heed to rumours. Maintain peace,” Khan was quoted as saying by PTI.
The appeal was issued on Thursday, Oct 2, to prevent anymore violence in the city.
On September 26, violence had broken out when about 2,000 people has assembled outside a mosque in the Kotwali area to protest against the suspension of the proposed “I Love Muhammad” protests called by Tauqeer Raza Khan.
Stone-pelting was reported and police resorted to lathi-charge.
At least 81 people have been arrested in the matter as of Wednesday, Oct 1, as per PTI.
Congress, SP leaders on house-arrest
Congress MP Imran Masood and Samajwadi Party MLA Shahnavaz Khan were prevented by the police from visiting Bareilly on Oct 1.
A police team guarded their houses since the night of Sept 30 and no official statements were made to explain the reason for the action.
Masood addressed the reporters at his residence and said, “We follow the Gandhian ideology. We were to leave at 6:50 am for Bareilly to meet the DIG and ADG and return by 1:30 pm. But the government is using such tactics to hide its failures.”
“It is the government and the police who have made the situation abnormal. Muslims are being selectively targeted. One set of laws applies to us, another to others,” he added, while responding to a question whether their visit could have made the situation worse, as per PTI.
‘I Love Mohammad’ protests in UP
The controversy came to light on September 9, when Kanpur Police filed an FIR against 24 individuals for allegedly installing boards inscribed with ‘I Love Mohammad,’ on a public road on September 4 during a Barawafat procession, as per PTI. The FIR named nine people, while 15 were unidentified.
The move had triggered objections from Hindu organisations, alleging a “new trend” towards deliberately provoking emotions. The matter gained momentum after AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi started to assert that it was not a crime to say ‘I Love Mohammad.’
