The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday said they have dropped a case registered against 25 people in Moradabad district’s Dullepur village for offering prayers ‘in the open’ after no evidence to support the complaint was found during investigation.
Police officials had said that a case under section 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Chajlat police station as the villagers continued to offer prayers in the open space despite warnings.
Senior Superintendent of Police Hemant Kotiyal said that the matter is being probed and the case is being closed as no evidence has been found to support the allegation.
Leaders of parties like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Samajwadi Party (SP) and National Conference (NC) had condemned the police action.
“The plaintiff Chanderpal Adi had registered a case in police station Chhajlat for offering mass prayer in village Dullepur, after investigation the incident was not proved, therefore, the case has been terminated. Rest of the legal proceedings will be conducted accordingly, Moradabad Police Officials. A message on Twitter handle said.
Wahid Saifi, named in the FIR, had claimed that he was the “legal owner” of the land and that prayers were often offered there since independence.
He claimed, “Recently some miscreants who are claiming themselves to be Bajrang Dal workers are opposing it, calling it a new tradition. He had complained to the police station on June 3.
“We all went to the office of the sub-divisional officer on June 3, where circle officer Kanth Saloni Agarwal was also present.
“All legal papers were shown by us but he warned us not to offer namaz in the open and since then we are following the orders,” he said. But after the transfer of the SHO, an FIR was registered at Chajlait police station on August 24. ,
AIMIM President and MP Asaduddin Owaisi had condemned the registration of the FIR in a series of tweets.
After the FIR was withdrawn, the Hyderabad MP tweeted, “Appropriate and timely decision. Hope the UP Police stops registering illegal FIRs under mob pressure. Hope people can now offer Namaz at their homes.” Any problem.
In a tweet, NC leader Omar Abdullah had said, “I am sure if one of the neighbors has a havan with 26 friends and relatives that would be totally acceptable. This is not a mass gathering, this is the problem, This is an offering of namaz.”
ST Hasan, Samajwadi Party MP from Moradabad, had said that he visited village Dullepur and found that all are taking advantage of their rights legally and communal harmony exists in the village.
He said that some miscreants had lodged a complaint with the police, which was found to be baseless.