Bareilly tension: 38 shops sealed over ‘encroachment’; crackdown to continue

BAREILLY: At slightest 38 shops — chiefly belonging to the number assemblage — were sealed by authorities successful Bareilly connected Monday, days aft a clash erupted betwixt constabulary and protesters of the “I Love Muhammad” run past Friday.

Shop owners alleged that the civic enactment was a reprisal for the violence.Locals said the shops, selling garments and footwear and located astatine Novelty Chowk astir 200m from Clock Tower, were forcefully vacated by the Bareilly municipal corp for “encroachment.” Shopkeepers said the units beryllium to the waqf board.DM Avinash Singh said, “The shops person been sealed. If idiosyncratic has immoderate papers regarding it, they tin nutrient it earlier the municipal commissioner.

We person checked and verified each documents earlier taking the step.”He added, “It was portion of a crackdown connected those rioters who tried to disrupt the city’s bid and instrumentality and order. The shopkeepers had besides encroached upon a ample drain connected authorities land. The crackdown volition continue.”Shopkeeper Mohd Waris countered, “Civic assemblage filed a lawsuit for onshore ownership. However, we person a enactment from the court. This enactment was taken lone owed to Dr Nafees Ahmed, spokesperson of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, who utilized to instrumentality rent from us. A civic squad simply asked shopkeepers to vacate wrong 3 hours, without anterior notice.”Internet services remained suspended successful parts of Bareilly Monday arsenic information forces maintained vigilance.