In the wake of communal tensions that erupted in Bareilly district on September 26, the atmosphere in the region remains tense.
Amid this, the Samajwadi Party (SP) had planned to send a delegation to Bareilly today, led by the Uttar Pradesh Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Mata Prasad Pandey.
However, citing security concerns, the Bareilly District Magistrate (DM) issued strict orders prohibiting political leaders from entering the district without prior permission. The DM also sent formal communication to the Lucknow Police Commissioner and other district police heads, instructing them to prevent any unauthorized political visits to the area.
Based on these directives, Lucknow Police served a notice to Mata Prasad Pandey and placed him under house arrest at his residence in Vrindavan Colony, Lucknow, effectively stopping him from traveling to Bareilly. A large police force was deployed outside his residence early this morning, preventing him from traveling.
According to sources, several other SP leaders, including MPs Harendra Malik, Iqra Hasan, Ziaur Rahman Barq, and Mohibullah, had also planned to visit Bareilly. However, police in their respective districts are reportedly keeping a close watch to ensure no political leaders attempt to reach the sensitive district.
Several SP leaders, including the party’s state general secretary,arrived at Mata Prasad’s residence in support but were not allowed to proceed. Police maintained a strong presence and did not allow them to proceed toward Bareilly, maintaining a firm blockade around the premises.
Addressing the media, Mata Prasad Pandey criticized the administration’s move: “The District Magistrate should have given the notice directly to us. We were going to Bareilly to meet party workers and gather ground information. The administration’s attempt to stop us raises serious questions. It appears they want to hide their illegal actions. We will expose them,” he said.
He also stated that the SP national president constituted a 14-member delegation after receiving reports that several innocent people had been jailed following the recent unrest in Bareilly.
Despite the restrictions, the SP delegation remains determined, and said that the party may explore legal and political options in response to what they call a “targeted suppression of democratic rights.”