Uttar Pradesh police in India have detained 12 people in Bareilly’s Mohammadganj village for offering Friday prayers at a private house without administrative permission, Indian media reports have said.
According to reports, authorities took the action as a preventive measure to maintain law and order following a local tip-off.
“No prior permission was taken from local administration for conducting the congregational prayer at the site. Considering the possibility of disturbance to peace, preventive action was taken against 12 individuals,” sub-inspector Anees of Bisharatganj police station told the Times of India.
SP (North) Anshika Verma told an Indian media outlet, “We received a tip-off that a house has been turned into a mosque and a madrassa. This was illegal. Those involved were told not to repeat such an activity without proper permission.”
The house, which usually remains locked, reportedly belongs to a woman named Resham. Her husband, Haseen Khan, died a few years ago, and she along with her two children currently work in another state, according to locals.
Afser Khan, a resident, said the village does not have a mosque and the nearest one is situated three kilometers away. “Old people normally find it difficult to travel that far, particularly in this cold weather. For their convenience, prayers were offered in that house. This dispute has been created unnecessarily,” Khan said.
Tejpal Singh, another resident, however said the house was operating as a mosque and a madrassa. He along with a few others recorded videos and informed police.
Additional police force has been deployed in the village, and senior officers said they are monitoring the situation closely.