Amidst tensions between religious groups over the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi processions, particularly in Bareilly, Kanpur, and Sambhal, the festival celebrating the birth of Prophet Mohammed was observed with a mix of both peaceful and contentious incidents across Uttar Pradesh.
In Lucknow, the festival was marked by around 200 processions, which were accompanied by langars (community meals) arranged at various points along the routes.
Police were stationed at multiple locations to ensure the safety and security of participants and spectators.
Similarly, in Varanasi, the atmosphere was vibrant with 60 religious groups presenting ‘Naatiya kalaam’, a poetic genre in praise of the Prophet.
Despite these peaceful celebrations, several violent incidents marred the festivities.
In Shahjahanpur, a tragic accident occurred when a DJ setup on a tractor-trolley came into contact with an electric wire.
This incident resulted in three individuals suffering severe burns, with one of them succumbing to injuries.
In Bahraich, a different kind of tragedy unfolded. Two youths on a motorcycle, transporting firecrackers for the procession, hit a dog. The accident caused the firecrackers to explode, leading to severe burns for one of the riders, who later died.
In Kanpur, the Gadanpur Chursa locality in Bilhaur witnessed a significant confrontation. Local villagers halted the procession due to objections over the slogans being chanted and the Islamic flags being flown.
They asserted that such a procession had never used this route before. The situation escalated until the police intervened, diffusing the tension by halting the procession’s progress and dispersing those trying to create trouble.
In Sambhal, another contentious situation arose when the police stopped a procession due to the presence of a DJ.
The decision led to a confrontation with Suhail, the son of Samajwadi Party MLA Iqbal Mohammed.
Suhail objected to the police’s actions, leading to a standoff. Eventually, the police clarified that the DJ could not be part of the procession, and the event proceeded peacefully after the DJ was removed.
Bareilly experienced its share of disputes as well. On the evening of the festival, a group of Hindus blocked the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession, claiming that Muslims had previously obstructed their Kanwar Yatra. The tension was further exacerbated by the refusal of local Hindus to allow the procession to pass through the Joginwada area.
The authorities intervened, negotiating with the heads of the anjumans to plan an alternative route. After considerable negotiation, the procession was rerouted through Maurya Gali in Joginwada.
However, this new route also faced opposition from local Hindus, who were displeased by the rerouting decision.
The situation was eventually resolved late into the night, with the procession allowed to proceed on the newly designated route.
