Cases for offering Eid namaz on roads: Clerics call move ‘unjustifiable’, demand withdrawal of FIRs

The clerics, who met Kanpur police commissioner recently to discuss the issue, said in a memorandum, “All of us are guilty of the crime. Arrest not only the 1,700 people booked, but thousands of others also for the crimes mentioned in the FIRs.”

Leading Muslim clerics in Kanpur have opposed the FIRs registered against hundreds of people for offering prayers on roads on the last Friday of Ramzan and Eid.

Last week, the Kanpur police had lodged three FIRs in Bajaria, Jajmau and Babupurwa against over 1,700 people for offering prayers on roads and defying the IPC section 144 that was in force. (For representation)

Calling the police action unjustifiable, the clerics, who demanded that the cases be withdrawn, wondered if the government or the district administration had decided that no religious event be held in public.

Citing their displeasure, the clerics, who met the Kanpur police commissioner recently to discuss the issue, said in a memorandum, “All of us are guilty of the crime. Arrest not only the 1,700 people booked, but thousands of others also for the crimes mentioned in the FIRs.”

The delegation which met the police chief included Shahr Qazi (Bareli) Mushtaq Mushahidi, Shahr Qazi (Deobandi) Qari Mamoor Ahmed and a dozen other clerics under the banner of Ulema Ahle Sunnat Mushwarati Board.

Last week, the Kanpur police had lodged three FIRs in Bajaria, Jajmau and Babupurwa against over 1,700 people for offering prayers on roads and defying the IPC section 144 that was in force.

The charges were IPC sections 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharging duties), 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 283 (causing danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way), 341 (wrongful restraint, and 353 (criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty).

The Kanpur police, however, were yet to make a comment on the meeting and demands put forth by the clerics before the police commissioner.