AGRA: Over 300 people in UP's Muzaffarnagar district received notices from the local administration to appear before a magistrate and furnish sureties of Rs 2 lakh each "to ensure maintenance of peace for one year" for wearing black armbands as part of a silent protest against the Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Bill during "alvida" Friday namaz on March 28.
The notices -- delivered to some at their doorstep or via Whatsapp message by station house officers (SHO) of the respective thanas in the district on April 3 -- directs them to appear in the magistrate court at 10am on April 16 and "show cause why the bond amount should not be submitted".
Muzaffarnagar SP (city), Satyanarayan Prajapat, said on Saturday: "In order to maintain law and order, around 300 individuals, identified as potential disruptors of public peace, were served notices under BNSS sections 126 (security for keeping peace) and 135 (procedure for a magistrate to inquire into truth of the information...). These individuals were directed to furnish sureties as a preventive and routine measure."
They were identified through CCTV footage and local intelligence, police officers said. Notably, the silent "black armband" protest was held after a call by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to show dissent against the Bill.
Prajapat added: "The Friday ‘alvida' prayers in the district passed off peacefully. However, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, and are in regular touch with religious leaders so that harmony is maintained in the district."
Reacting to the stringent measure, some of the residents who were slapped with the notice pointed out that "it was only a silent protest -- without sloganeering or posters -- and such a step was unfair".
One of them, Mohammad Shibli said, "Last Friday, we silently wore black armbands as per the call given by AIMPLB. We were wearing ribbons while entering the mosque, and then silently went back home. How can they call us disruptors of public peace?"
Echoing similar sentiments, another resident, wishing anonymity, added, "Our intention was to register our objection to the contentious Bill, which relates to changes govt wants to make to waqf properties. Many people in my neighbourhood -- some of them elderly -- received such notice."
The notice reads: "This challan report was received and presented by the inspector in-charge of police station, Muzaffarnagar, in which it was informed that opponents protested against the Bill by tying black ribbons on their arms during Friday and Eid prayers. In future, they can disturb peace by inciting the general public. Hence, the inspector in-charge has requested that the opponents be made to sign a bond... The city magistrate directs you to appear in court at 10am on April 16 and show cause why a bond of Rs 2 lakh should not be submitted to maintain peace within this jurisdiction for a year."
The notices -- delivered to some at their doorstep or via Whatsapp message by station house officers (SHO) of the respective thanas in the district on April 3 -- directs them to appear in the magistrate court at 10am on April 16 and "show cause why the bond amount should not be submitted".
Muzaffarnagar SP (city), Satyanarayan Prajapat, said on Saturday: "In order to maintain law and order, around 300 individuals, identified as potential disruptors of public peace, were served notices under BNSS sections 126 (security for keeping peace) and 135 (procedure for a magistrate to inquire into truth of the information...). These individuals were directed to furnish sureties as a preventive and routine measure."
They were identified through CCTV footage and local intelligence, police officers said. Notably, the silent "black armband" protest was held after a call by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) to show dissent against the Bill.
Prajapat added: "The Friday ‘alvida' prayers in the district passed off peacefully. However, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, and are in regular touch with religious leaders so that harmony is maintained in the district."
Reacting to the stringent measure, some of the residents who were slapped with the notice pointed out that "it was only a silent protest -- without sloganeering or posters -- and such a step was unfair".
One of them, Mohammad Shibli said, "Last Friday, we silently wore black armbands as per the call given by AIMPLB. We were wearing ribbons while entering the mosque, and then silently went back home. How can they call us disruptors of public peace?"
Echoing similar sentiments, another resident, wishing anonymity, added, "Our intention was to register our objection to the contentious Bill, which relates to changes govt wants to make to waqf properties. Many people in my neighbourhood -- some of them elderly -- received such notice."
The notice reads: "This challan report was received and presented by the inspector in-charge of police station, Muzaffarnagar, in which it was informed that opponents protested against the Bill by tying black ribbons on their arms during Friday and Eid prayers. In future, they can disturb peace by inciting the general public. Hence, the inspector in-charge has requested that the opponents be made to sign a bond... The city magistrate directs you to appear in court at 10am on April 16 and show cause why a bond of Rs 2 lakh should not be submitted to maintain peace within this jurisdiction for a year."
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