Muzaffarnagar:
Authorities in Muzaffarnagar have issued notices to 300 individuals who participated in a peaceful protest against the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, by wearing black badges during Friday prayers at various mosques. Police identified the individuals using CCTV footage and have asked each of them to furnish a bond of ₹2 lakh.
According to Superintendent of Police (City) Satyanarayan Prajapat, the protestors were traced and served notices following surveillance operations. Earlier, notices had been issued to 24 individuals, but the figure surged to 300 by Sunday. More people are being identified, police confirmed.
The notices, issued by City Magistrate Vikas Kashyap based on police reports, require the individuals to appear in court on April 16. The protest took place on March 28, when participants wore black arm bands during Jumu’ah prayers to express their dissent against the new Waqf Act.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, passed after a marathon debate in both houses of Parliament, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who label it “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional.” Despite protests, the bill was approved in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes in favor and 232 against, and later in the Rajya Sabha with 128 supporting and 95 opposing. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on Saturday.
Civil rights groups and minority forums have condemned the move, stating that punishing citizens for peaceful symbolic protest reflects shrinking democratic space in the country.
