The Lucknow Police on Tuesday arrested four Muslim men who allegedly offered namaz at the city’s newly-opened Lulu Mall.
Those arrested have been identified as Mohammad Rehan, Aatif Khan, Mohammad Lokman and Mohammad Noman.
The Lucknow Police Commissionerate claimed that they identified the accused persons after checking surveillance footage from the mall.
All four have been sent into judicial custody, the police said.
On July 12, Hindutva handles and RSS mouthpiece Organiser 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 July 14. They had demanded permission from the authorities to chant the Hanuman Chalisa near the mall.
