Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government’s handling of recent communal tensions has come under sharp criticism after police adopted contrasting approaches in Bareilly and Fatehpur incidents. While authorities launched extensive arrests and property seizures in Bareilly following the “I Love Muhammad” rally and subsequent clashes, they are accused of showing leniency toward those who vandalized the historic Nawab Abdul Samad’s mausoleum in Fatehpur.
In Bareilly, police cracked down heavily on supporters of Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza. More than 90 arrests have been made so far. Shops linked to his associates, including properties tied to Dr. Nafees, were sealed. Municipal authorities also shut down hundreds of businesses built near Pehlwan Sahab’s shrine, citing alleged encroachments on waqf or government land. Officials now say that Raza Palace marriage hall, long accused of being built on disputed property, is also under review.
By contrast, activists and community leaders note that when Hindu groups vandalized the Fatehpur mausoleum in August 2025, police only registered minor cases. Opposition figures allege that even naming the accused was prevented in the state assembly. Critics argue this selective action reveals a “double standard” in how the state responds to communal tensions.
Residents of Bareilly expressed concern that mass shop closures have left hundreds struggling for daily livelihood. Minority groups say the sweeping crackdown unfairly targets Muslims while those responsible for attacks on Muslim religious sites face little accountability.
The state government has defended its actions in Bareilly as necessary for law and order. However, demands are growing for impartial investigations and equal treatment in cases of communal violence across Uttar Pradesh.
