Lulu Mall Controversy: 2 People Arrested For Reciting Hanuman Chalisa Inside Premises, 15 Detained

At least 15 others were detained for creating a ruckus while trying to enter the shopping mall, said police as reported by news agency PTI.

A view of the Lulu mall in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow (Source: File photo/PTI)

New Delhi: Amid the controversy over the group of people offering namaz inside the recently opened Lulu Mall in Lucknow, two more people were arrested after they entered Mall and started reciting Hanuman Chalisa on Saturday. At least 15 others were detained for creating a ruckus while trying to enter the shopping mall, said police as reported by news agency PTI.

Confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Gopal Krishna Choudhary said, “Two people entered the mall, sat on the floor and started saying religious prayers. They were arrested after being handed over to the police by the mall’s security staff.” Shortly after the duo was held, members of a right-wing group tried to enter the mall. They too were detained by police and released with a warning not to create a ruckus.

Earlier, Police detained three people from the entry gate of the mall for allegedly attempting to recite Sundarkand inside the premises. According to reports, three people from Hindu Samaj Party were detained at the mall's gate on Friday. 

"3 people of Hindu Samaj Party were detained from mall's gate. Currently, there is peaceful situation," Rajesh Srivastava, ADCP South, Lucknow told reporters. The development comes hours after an FIR was registered against unidentified persons.

The FIR was registered under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the complaint of Shishir Chaturvedi from Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. "FIR registered at Sushant Golf City Police Station on a complaint by Lulu Mall management. IPC Sections 153A, 295A, 341 and others are invoked in the FIR," Ajay Pratap Singh, Police Station Incharge, Sushant Golf City, Lucknow said.

Earlier this week, a video purportedly showing a group of people offering namaz at Lulu Mall surfaced on social media, leading to a protest by a right-wing Hindu group. The mall was inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on July 10.