Lucknow Police on Saturday arrested two persons for reciting Hanuman Chalisa inside the city's Lulu Mall, which has become a centre of controversy after a video of people offering namaz at the mall surfaced on social media.
"Two people have been arrested after they recited Hanuman Chalisa inside Lulu Mall in Lucknow," said ADCP South, Rajesh Srivastav.
Here's the video of the duo reciting Hanuman Chalisa inside Lulu Mall:
On Friday, police had detained three people for allegedly attempting to recite Sundarkand inside the mall premises.
As per police officials, the three arrested people belonged to Hindu Samaj Party. They were detained at the mall's entry gate.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Srivastava said, "Three people were detained from the entry gate of Lulu Mall in Lucknow for allegedly attempting to recite Sundarkand inside the mall premises. Three people of the Hindu Samaj Party were detained at the mall's gate. Currently, there's a peaceful situation."
On July 15, an FIR has been registered against unidentified persons amid the row over namaz inside the recently inaugurated Lulu Mall in Lucknow, police said.
The FIR has been registered under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the complaint of Shishir Chaturvedi from Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. This comes after a video went viral in which some people can be seen offering namaz inside the mall.
"One Shishir Chaturvedi from Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has lodged a complaint regarding the reading of namaz at Lulu Mall. Appropriate action will be taken after the investigation," Ajay Pratap Singh, Police Station Incharge, Sushant Golf City, Lucknow said."
"FIR registered at Sushant Golf City Police Station on a complaint by Lulu Mall management. IPC Sections 153A, 295A, 341 and others are invoked in the FIR," he added.
However, the General Manager of Lulu Mall, Sameer Verma said that the mall does not allow any prayers.
"Lulu Mall respects all the religions and kind of worshipping is not permitted here. In this regard, we provide strict training to our staff to keep an eye on such incidents," he said.
(With ANI inputs)
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