Bareilly sitting on powder keg, curfew reimposed

Tension has again gripped the western UP city of Bareilly, which witnessed riots last week that left hundreds of shops gutted and scores injured. After a brief respite, the city has been under curfew again for the last four days.

Things almost reached a flashpoint on Wednesday night when an estimated 10,000-1,5000 strong crowd gathered in the heart of the city.

They had come to listen to a speech by Sunni cleric Subhan Raza Khan (popularly known as Subhani Miyan), the head of the famous Ala Hazrat dargah (also known as Khankahe Niyaziya mosque). People from many localities in old city were implored via loudspeakers to come out on the streets and protest against the detention of local Muslim leader Tauqir Raza Khan.

Tauqir, son-in-law of Subhani Miyan and national president of the powerful Muslim organization Itihad-e-Millat Council (IMC) was arrested from IMC office by police on March 8 in connection with the rioting. A curfew has been on many areas of the city since then.