Four individuals were arrested in Kanpur on Saturday following a protest staged against the Waqf (Amendment) Act after Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid in Naubasta, reported the Indian Express. The demonstration, which escalated in intensity, included an alarming moment when a young man attempted self-immolation by pouring petrol on himself. Swift intervention by police personnel prevented the tragedy.
Authorities had already deployed a significant police presence in the area as a precaution. According to police officials, all those detained are in their twenties and work in various daily-wage and odd jobs.
An FIR was registered at the Naubasta police station against six identified individuals and 15 unknown protestors. Assistant Superintendent of Police Chitranshu Gautam confirmed that four have been arrested so far, and efforts are ongoing to locate the others.
Preliminary investigations revealed that pamphlets criticizing the Waqf (Amendment) Act were distributed a day before the incident, urging people to congregate after prayers. On Friday, soon after the prayers concluded, protestors gathered outside the mosque waving banners and raising slogans.
Naubasta SHO Santosh Kumar Singh reported that some protestors were detained on the spot, while others managed to flee. Further inquiries found that the protest was also coordinated via a WhatsApp group, and the person who shared the message has been identified and detained. Additionally, the owner of the press that printed the pamphlets was booked.
This incident follows similar unrest reported in Muzaffarnagar last week, where over 300 individuals received notices from the administration for wearing black armbands in protest during Friday and Eid prayers.
