Security has been increased in several districts of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Friday prayers on June 17. The Uttar Pradesh police are cooperating with the common people and religious leaders to ensure that violence and protests do not erupt during the Friday prayers similar to last week. Prashant Kumar, the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) of Uttar Pradesh said that arrangements have been made to ensure that violent protests like the ones which erupted on June 10 are not repeated, ABP News reported. There were violent demonstrations in many cities of Uttar Pradesh after the Friday prayers last week.
Kumar said that arrangements have been made for the Friday prayers this week with aid from religious leaders. He added that a demonstration was proposed in Bareilly which has been postponed, and the police have had a meeting with all the religious leaders and peace-loving people.
"This time, arrangements have been made in a way such that there should be no problem. An appeal has also been made by all the religious leaders in this regard. At the same time, action is being taken with fairness and transparency against the miscreants who had created unrest earlier," the ADG further said.
132 companies of Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) and 10 companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed, ABP News reported.
After the stone pelting incident on Friday, the Uttar Pradesh Police identified the accused and demolished their houses with a bulldozer. The Uttar Pradesh government is claiming that only illegal constructions were demolished. However, the opposition has accused the government of declaring people as criminals instead of letting the court handle the matter.
The matter of bulldozers being sent to demolish the houses of the accused has reached the Supreme Court after Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind filed a petition. The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the Uttar Pradesh government within three days.