Five imams, 150 others booked for mass prayers in Uttar Pradesh

TNN | Updated: Apr 5, 2020, 07:47 IST

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LUCKNOW: UP Police booked five imams and 150 others in last 24 hours for leading congregational prayers in Basti, Santkabirnagar, Deoria, Badaun, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Pilibhit in violation of lockdown orders.
In Deoria, police had a minor scuffle with a group of people who had gathered for Friday prayers.
Additional director general of police, law and order, PV Ramasastry said, "Any non-adherence or non-compliance of government directions in connection with coronavirus restrictions and regulations of Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 will be dealt under relevant laws, and in case someone is found creating panic, gathering in group or spreading false information then police will take action."
In Rampurkarkhana, Deoria, an imam and 50 persons were booked for violating lockdown order. CO Nishtha Upadhayay said, "A police team reached Basantpur village and asked people at the mosque to disperse, but they did not listen."
"We booked an imam and 50 others under various sections of IPC and Disaster Management Act," she said.
Similarly, 31 persons, including an imam, were booked in Madhopur village of Sant Kabirnagar. In Basti, an imam and 40 others were booked for mass prayers in Bhanpur. Police booked 20, including an imam, in Kadar Bazaar police station area, and an imam among 10 in Pilibhit.