Bareilly Violence: 'Sar Tan Se Juda' Slogans Raised on Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan's Orders, Chargesheet Filed

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A recent chargesheet filed in the September 26 violence in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, has revealed that 'sar tan se juda' (beheading) slogans were raised at the direction of cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. The chargesheet, filed on Friday, names 38 people, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), as the main accused. According to the investigation, the accused attacked police teams at two locations, raising aggressive and provocative slogans after receiving instructions from Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to control the situation, which had turned unruly after Friday prayers. The violence broke out after Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan called upon his supporters to gather at the Islamia College grounds. A total of 10 FIRs were registered in the case, with chargesheets filed in 10 main cases involving over 100 accused. Investigations in two cases are still ongoing. Inspector Dhananjay Pandey of Baradari police station said that violence first broke out when miscreants attacked a police team near Shahdana Road. Following the call of Maulana Tauqeer Raza, a crowd chanted 'tan se juda' slogans and tried to march towards Islamia Maidan. The crime branch, led by Inspector Sanjay Dheer, carried out the investigation that resulted in the latest chargesheet. The clashes between protesters and police occurred on September 26 after protesters opposing FIRs over 'I Love Muhammad' posters were denied permission to hold a demonstration. Several people, including police personnel, were injured in the clashes. Police registered 10 FIRs, booking hundreds of people, mostly unidentified, in connection with the violence.