JE News Desk: The Kanpur Police registered FIRs against 40 unidentified persons for offering namaz on the streets on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha despite a government direction against doing so, officials informed on Saturday.
As per the police, they are trying to identify those involved with the help of photographs and videos and an investigation in underway in the matter.
Reportedly, the police have registered against those who reached the Eidgah Masjid in the Jajmau area of Kanpur late and decided to sit on the road and offer namaz. This incident happened despite a government direction against this was conveyed to people many times, police claimed.
"An FIR was registered against 40 unidentified persons under IPC sections 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 283 (danger or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint)," Indian Express cited Brajnarayan Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kanpur as saying.
According to officials case was lodged at the Jajmau police station and no arrests have been made so far.
On Eid al Adha, the Uttar Pradesh Police issued a government circular on various mosques in the state highlighting the government's order against performing congregational prayers on roads or any public places.
The order stated strict action against those who performed namaz outside Idgahs and mosques. The UP police also warned that an immediate report will be filed if anyone was found acting against the order.
Earlier in April, three separate FIRs were lodged in Kanpur against more than 1,500 unidentified persons and an Eidgah committee over the offering of namaz on roads on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Police have alleged that despite the ban, namaz was offered on the road outside Jajmau Eidgah, Babupurwa Eidgah and Badi Eidgah in Benajhabar in the city on April 22.