A case has been registered against seven individuals, with an additional 50 unidentified persons, for allegedly offering namaz on a road near a graveyard in Bareilly. The incident took place on Friday morning and has resulted in the filing of charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 505(1)(b) and 341.
According to the Hafizganj Station House Officer (SHO), Chetram Verma, the case was initiated based on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Gajendra Singh. The accused have been identified as Kalua, Narbar Khan, Sabir, Janade Ali, Mohd Umar (village pradhan), Urabbe Ali, and Mumtaz. All of them are residents of Duavat village, located in the district.
The incident unfolded when the village pradhan, Mohd Umar, informed the police that a burial was scheduled to take place in the graveyard on Friday morning. When the funeral procession of Nakshu Khan reached the road near the graveyard, the accused individuals were alleged to have conducted a funeral prayer.
The police force had already been deployed near the graveyard due to its proximity to a densely populated area and its close vicinity to a religious place known as ‘Brahmadev Sthal.’
Local residents raised objections to the offering of namaz on the road. In addition, someone recorded a video of the incident, which went viral on social media platforms, prompting police action.
The case has been registered under IPC Section 505(1)(b), which pertains to offences against the state or public tranquillity, and Section 341, which deals with wrongful restraint. The identity of the 50 individuals who participated in the namaz but remain unidentified is under investigation.
