Citing concerns that communal harmony could be disturbed, especially in the run-up to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2019, Uttar Pradesh’s Noida Police has issued orders to offices and establishments in Sector-58 to direct their Muslim employees to stop offering Friday prayers in open areas such as parks.
According to a notice issued last week by police in Noida, companies will be held liable if their employees are found violating the directive.
“Notices were sent to many companies in our area after several complaints regarding a large number of people offering namaz in the afternoon especially on Fridays,” said Pankaj Rai, Station House Officer (SHO) of the Sector 58 police station, from where the initial round of notices were issued
“Since most people offering prayers are employees in companies nearby, we have sent notices to those companies to ask their employees to either offer namaz in a masjid, Eidgah or within the office compound on the roof etc,” Rai added.
Meanwhile, companies in the area have sought a meeting with senior Noida police officers for clarification on the matter, particularly on the clause that threatens to hold them liable for violations of the order by employees.
“A few people had asked for permission for religious prayers in a park in Sector 58. In spite of no permission granted from the city magistrate, the office people congregated. The companies in the area were informed about it. The information is not specific to any particular religion,” said Noida’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Ajay Pal Sharma.
District Magistrate BN Singh also seconded the views of the SSP and said the orders have been issued in accordance of the wish of the state administration.