The Lucknow Police on Sunday arrested two more Muslims for offering namaz at the city’s Lulu Mall.
With the arrests, the tally of persons in judicial custody in the case has increased to seven.
The first arrests of four Muslim men in the case were made on Tuesday. The fifth Muslim was held on Saturday.
Those arrested on Tuesday have been identified as Mohammad Rehan, Aatif Khan, Mohammad Lokman and Mohammad Noman.
The two persons arrested on Sunday have been identified as Irfan Ahmed and Saud, residents of the Sadatganj area in the city.
On 12 July, Hindutva handles and RSS mouthpiece Organiser Weekly shared a video of some persons offering namaz at the mall on social media. Following a hate campaign by Hindutva groups, the police filed a first information report on July 14 against unidentified persons under Indian Penal Code sections 153A(1) (promoting enmity between groups), 295A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).
Members of the Hindutva outfit Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha protested outside the gate of the mall on 14 July. They had demanded permission from the authorities to chant the Hanuman Chalisa near the mall.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Rajesh Kumar said efforts were being made to arrest other accused persons in the case.
