A week after stone-pelting and violence at a few places in Uttar Pradesh, the Friday prayers passed off peacefully across the state.
Interestingly, as a mark of communal harmony, the namazis at some places, including the state capital, gave roses to the policemen on duty.
Reports said that unlike last Friday, no unwanted incident was reported in the state over the derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed allegedly made by Bharatiya Janata Party’s suspended leader Nupur Sharma.
The Uttar Pradesh Police, along with the local intelligence unit (LIU) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) were monitoring the situation and a force was deployed across the state to maintain peace.
Wasif Hasan, the mutawallai of the famous Teele Wali Masjid in Lucknow, gave flowers to all policemen, including senior officials, who were deployed for Friday prayers. Many other namazis joined him in the goodwill gesture.
"Keeping in mind the current situation, I would like to appeal to the people to maintain peace at every cost. Those coming to offer namaz should not indulge in any kind of sloganeering nor attend any gathering. They should offer namaz and go back to their respective homes," Hasan said.
Earlier on Thursday, religious leaders and imams of various mosques had also issued an appeal for maintaining peace and to not indulge in gathering or sloganeering.
Speaking to the media, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, "With the help of all religious leaders and police officials, the Friday prayers were held peacefully."
On June 10, after the Friday prayers, there were violent demonstrations in Prayagraj, Saharanpur and some other districts of the state, in which 13 policemen were injured. So far, UP Police have arrested 357 miscreants involved in stone-pelting and violence.