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Tension grips Bareilly after cleric's 'Jail Bharo' call to protest anti-Muslim policies of govt

Stones were pelted following the arrest of the cleric

Supporters of Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan gather on roads after a 'jail bharo' call given by him | PTI

Tension prevailed in Bareilly of Uttar Pradesh on Friday after Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan, who had given a 'Jail Bharo' call to protest "against the anti-Muslim policies of the government," was detained by police.

According to media reports, stones were pelted following the arrest of the cleric. Police said one person was injured in the stone pelting, and an investigation is underway.

On Thursday, Khan had informed the district administration and sought permission for his 'Jail Bharo' call, which was declined citing law and order situation.

The district administration sealed the Islamia College ground where Khan had asked his supporters to gather and deployed police personnel in the area. Despite these measures, thousands of supporters of Khan came out on the streets in the Biharipur area.

"The programme was completed peacefully and people were returning. At that time, a fight broke out between some miscreants and people. Police reached the spot and controlled the situation. Police force has been deployed there. Action is being taken against those who are involved in this. The situation is under control. We appeal people to not to trust any rumours," Bareilly SSP Ghule Sushil Chandrabhan said.

"The government is making Muslim an enemy. We are against the anti-Muslim policies of the government," Khan, a direct descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi, the founder of Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam, claimed.