Ahead of Eid celebrations, police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal have announced stringent restrictions on public prayers and loudspeaker usage, triggering concerns over selective enforcement.
The curbs come in the wake of controversial remarks made by Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Chaudhary, whose statements at a so-called Peace Committee meeting have drawn sharp criticism for their Islamophobic undertones.
During the Peace Committee meeting held at Sadar Kotwali on Wednesday, CO Anuj Chaudhary reiterated his stance on ‘religious harmony’, but his remarks were seen as a veiled warning to the Muslim community. “If you want to serve Sewaiyan on Eid, you must also eat Gujiya on Holi,” he said, adding, “They should eat Gujiya, and we should eat Sewaiyan. But the problem arises when one side is willing and the other is not. This is where brotherhood breaks down, and that should not happen.”
Chaudhary’s comments come after his controversial statement before Holi, when he remarked, “There are 52 Fridays in a year, and Holi comes only once. If someone has a problem with colors, they should stay indoors on that day.”
The remark was widely criticised by opposition parties, who accused him of justifying forced participation in Holi celebrations while selectively restricting Muslim religious practices.
Meanwhile, police have imposed strict regulations on Eid prayers in Sambhal. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shri Sh Chandra announced that Eid prayers will only be allowed at designated mosques and Eidgahs, prohibiting public prayers on roads and rooftops.
“Namaz will only be offered at traditional places. People should not gather unnecessarily on rooftops for prayers. The use of loudspeakers will also be regulated to avoid inconvenience,” he stated.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra reinforced the directive, stating, “People have been instructed to maintain mutual harmony and help each other during upcoming festivals including Eid, Navratri, and Ram Navami. It is not allowed to offer namaz on the street, and the use of loudspeakers is restricted.” She added that authorities will assess the request for rooftop prayers and disallow them if deemed a security risk.
The police have also decided to deploy additional police forces during Eid. Surveillance measures, including CCTV monitoring and drone deployment in “conflict-prone” areas, have been ordered. Authorities have warned that any violation of the directives will result in action against offenders.
The restrictions on Eid follow a controversial police crackdown during Holi celebrations, where mosques in several areas were covered with tarpaulins, raising questions over the selective approach of law enforcement agencies.
Apart from Sambhal, similar restrictions have been imposed in Meerut. The police have banned public prayers on roads and warned that violators could face severe consequences, including the revocation of passports and licenses. Last year, 200 people were arrested for allegedly violating similar orders during Eid.
The ‘selective restrictions’ in Sambhal come a month after UP Police’s Special Investigation Team submitted chargesheets in six cases related to the November 24 protest against the mosque survey, totaling over 4,400 pages.
On November 24 last year, the town of Sambhal witnessed intense violence when an ASI team arrived to survey the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, accompanied by a Hindutva mob chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” As local Muslims gathered outside the mosque and tensions escalated, police resorted to force and opened fire on the protesters. At least five Muslim men were killed in the police violence.
The police, however, called the protesters “rioters” and registered cases in connection with the violence. Locals allege that the cases have been used to target protesters and Muslim residents.
So far, 77 Muslims, including four women, have been arrested for allegedly pelting stones at police from rooftops. The police have registered eight FIRs in connection with the incident.
