**Heightened Security Ensures Peaceful Friday Prayers Across Uttar Pradesh**
Lucknow: Amid heightened security and an atmosphere of caution, Friday prayers across Uttar Pradesh passed off without incident. The state has been on high alert following last week’s violence in Bareilly, prompting authorities to turn sensitive districts into security fortresses and maintain round-the-clock surveillance.
In Bareilly alone, nearly 10,000 security personnel were deployed, with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and District Magistrate (DM) personally patrolling the streets. Internet services, suspended for a second time on Thursday, will remain shut until Saturday to curb rumor-mongering.
Drones scanned rooftops while police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and Rapid Response Force (RRF) units carried out flag marches through sensitive neighborhoods. Security drills were also held in other major cities to ensure preparedness.
In Varanasi, ATS commandos conducted mock exercises at Cantt railway station and the bus stand. Similarly, Kanpur and Prayagraj witnessed readiness drills, highlighting the state-wide focus on security.
In Gonda, the Inspector General (IG) Range inspected arrangements on the ground, while in Sambhal, heavy deployment was visible outside Jama Masjid. In Raya Buzurg village of Sambhal, locals resumed demolition of a mosque built on government land immediately after offering prayers.
Across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh, police forces remained on high alert. Authorities had earlier braced for trouble following the All India Muslim Personal Law Board’s announcement of a Bharat Bandh on October 3. However, the call was later withdrawn in view of the upcoming festivals.
The heightened precautions stem from last Friday’s clashes in Bareilly over the “I Love Mohammad” controversy. The Ittehad-e-Millat Council, led by Maulana Tauqeer Raza, had called a protest rally against an FIR filed in the case. Despite a ban, violence broke out, forcing police to resort to lathicharge to restore order.
Police sources revealed that intelligence inputs indicated attempts to reignite tensions, leading to the decision to shut down internet services on October 2.
Investigators have named Maulana Tauqeer Raza as the alleged mastermind behind the violence. So far, ten FIRs have been registered, booking approximately 2,500 people, including 200 individuals identified by name. Of these, 81 have been arrested and remanded to jail.
Officials credited strict surveillance, preventive action, and heavy police deployment for ensuring that this Friday remained peaceful across the state.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-on-high-alert-friday-prayers-pass-peacefully-amid-heavy-security-in-bareilly-video