The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district detained and fined 12 Muslim men after accusing them of offering namaz inside a private house “without permission.”
According to PTI, the 12 men were challaned under legal provisions related to breach of peace and were later produced before a magistrate, who granted them bail.
Superintendent of Police (South) Anshika Verma said the police acted after receiving information that a vacant house in Mohammedganj village was allegedly being used as a temporary madrasa. “Conducting any new religious activity or gathering without permission is a violation of the law,” Verma said, adding, “Strict action will be taken if such activities are repeated.”
The incident came to light after a video, purportedly showing Muslim men offering namaz inside the house, was circulated widely on social media. The video was shared by several Hindutva accounts, accompanied by hateful comments targeting Muslims.
Police said a preliminary inquiry found that the house belongs to a man named Hanif and was being used temporarily for Friday prayers. There was no indication of permanent construction or institutional religious activity at the site, PTI quoted the police as saying.
The detention and fining of the men have raised questions about the policing of Muslim religious practices, particularly as prayers inside private homes are common in many parts of the country due to lack of access to mosques or adequate prayer spaces.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com.