BAREILLY: Authorities sealed off at least 38 shops, primarily owned by members of the minority community, in Bareilly on Monday. This action follows a clash that erupted last Friday between police and protesters associated with the “I Love Muhammad” campaign. Shop owners have alleged that the sealing of their shops is retaliation for the violence that occurred.
According to local residents, the shops, which sell garments and footwear and are located at Novelty Chowk, approximately 200 meters from Clock Tower, were forcibly vacated by the Bareilly municipal corporation under the claim of “encroachment.” The shopkeepers stated that the properties belong to the waqf board.
District Magistrate Avinash Singh stated, “The shops have been sealed. If anyone has documentation regarding their ownership, they can present it to the municipal commissioner. We have conducted thorough checks and verified all documents prior to this action.” Singh emphasized that the sealing was part of a broader crackdown on those who attempted to disrupt law and order in the city. He noted that the shopkeepers had encroached on a large drain on government land and added that enforcement efforts would persist.
Shopkeeper Mohd Waris contended, “The civic body filed a case regarding land ownership; however, we have a stay order from the court. This action was prompted solely by Dr. Nafees Ahmed, spokesperson of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, who collected rent from us. A civic team demanded that shopkeepers vacate within three hours, without prior notice.”
In response to the unrest, internet services remained suspended in parts of Bareilly on Monday as security forces maintained heightened vigilance in the area.
