By Amit Sharma, Neetika Jha
Stepping up security measures ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, police in UP’s Meerut have warned against namaz on streets, saying violators would face legal action that could lead to registration of criminal cases, cancellation of passports and licences.
This has drawn a sharp response from Union Minister of State and RLD chief Jayant Singh Chaudhary who, in a post on X, said: “Policing towards Orwellian 1984!”. He was referring to the Thought Police with sweeping powers in Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’.
On Wednesday, Meerut police submitted a list of eight persons to District Magistrate Dr Vijay Kumar Singh, saying they violated last year’s order prohibiting namaz on the streets during Eid. Police have initiated steps for cancellation of their licences and passports.
Meerut City SP Ayush Vikram Singh said: “We have appealed to people that they offer namaz at a nearby mosque or reach the Idgah on time. We have given strict instructions that under no condition will prayers be allowed on roads.”
He said last year a few people had offered namaz on a road on Eid. “We registered an FIR against them… This time too if someone sits for prayers in the open, very strict action will be taken. We are making continuous appeals.”
Singh said in case a criminal case is registered against a person, it can lead to cancellation of licence and passport. The person booked, he said, will not get an NOC (no-objection certificate) to apply for a passport or licence.
Meerut range DIG Kalanidhi Naithani said violators will face immediate punitive measures, including case registration and possible arrest.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.