New Delhi : In a continuation of restrictions on events linked to Salar Masud Ghazi, the police have now imposed a ban on the public fair held at Sikandra, Allahabad. The five-day-long event was scheduled to begin this week, but on Sunday morning, police arrived at the Sikandra Dargah, locked its gates, and ordered nearby shops to shut down. Authorities also restricted the entry of thousands of visitors traveling from distant areas to attend the fair.
The local police have adopted a strict stance on the issue. ACP Phulpur, Pankaj Lavania, stated that honoring invaders and organizing fairs in their memory amounted to “treason.” He warned that legal action would be taken against anyone found violating this directive. Following this announcement, Sikandra Fair Committee President Safdar Javed urged the public to comply with the administration’s orders and refrain from attending the event.
For decades, the Ghazi Miyan Fair has been held annually in Sikandra during the month of Baisakh. The fair is known for its interfaith participation, with Hindus attending in greater numbers than Muslims. Many Hindu devotees, after the fair, embark on a ritual journey to Bahraich on foot. However, the police have now sealed off the dargah’s entrance and imposed a strict ban on the event.
The police action in Sikandra follows similar prohibitions in Sambhal and Bahraich. Reports suggest that emboldened by the earlier bans, local right-wing groups initiated a social media campaign calling the Sikandra Dargah “fake” and demanding the fair’s cancellation. This led senior officials to intervene. ACP Phulpur, along with Station House Officer (SHO) Bahariya, Mahesh Mishra, and Sikandra Outpost Incharge, Virat Mishra, inspected the site and directed the fair committee to cancel the event. A police force was deployed at the dargah, and under official pressure, Safdar Javed locked its gates.
Local police also issued a controversial statement, suggesting that Hindus should worship at temples such as Pareela Mahadev, Hanuman Ji, Durga Ji, and Shankar Ji, while Muslims should pray in mosques instead of visiting sites associated with “invaders.”
The Ghazi Miyan Fair is one of several public gatherings facing government restrictions in Uttar Pradesh, reportedly due to its association with Salar Masud Ghazi. These fairs, which attract large interfaith crowds, have increasingly come under the scrutiny of the state administration. The police appear determined to prevent such events from being held across the state.
The ban in Sikandra marks a shift in tradition, with local residents expressing disappointment. Meanwhile, right-wing groups like the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) have been actively campaigning against the fair, pressuring district authorities to prohibit it.
As tensions escalated on social media, the police later clarified that the dargah was locked by the committee itself, allegedly for maintenance work. However, locals claim the decision was made under duress.
