UP: Police book 200 people under terror law, Muslims flee Khair village

Following the clash which is said to have taken place on October 20, hundreds of Muslims have fled fearing arrest from the Muslim-dominated village, Khair. According to The Indian Express report, almost 200 people belonging to the Muslim community have been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The clash erupted when a procession of Durga idol immersion was reportedly passing through the Muslim-dominated village. A local named Ashish Kumar Shukla — who was part of the procession, got an FIR lodged at Baundi police station against 80 named (all Muslims) and 100-200 unnamed people, reported The Indian Express.

The complaint alleged that the accused — armed with pistols, bombs and swords — attacked the procession and 50-60 unidentified people were injured.

As of now, the police have arrested 19 people from Khair and claimed to have identified 52 others. Police officials, however, now claim the UAPA was invoked wrongly, and that they will drop it from the FIR.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is a central law that is usually invoked on acts posing threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Security has been beefed up in Khair and shops are closed. “There was a clash between Muslims and Hindus, but police registered FIR only against us. No FIR was lodged against people in the procession who engaged in brick-batting and attacked our houses and shops. Police are harassing us,” alleges 63-year-old Jaituna.”

“All youths left home after the police started raiding our houses. Those who were found were arrested. My sons Ramzan Ali (30) and Nankau (28) are in jail,” said Jaituna, who is left with two daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren told Indian Express.

Those who have fled include former village head Mohammad Rasheed (45) and head cleric of Jama Masjid at Khair Bazaar, Hafiz Abdul Bari (43). “Rasheed’s family too has left. Police broke their doors and windows when women and children were inside,” says Mohammad Hasan, a neighbour.

According to the report, the village has 65 percent Muslim population.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Bahraich, Ravindra Kumar Singh said that UAPA had been wrongly been invoked, and they are probing how this happened. “We are now invoking Criminal Law Amendment Act.

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