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.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.
