Bareilly- In a controversial incident that has ignited fierce debate on religious freedoms, police in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district detained 12 individuals for offering congregational namaz inside a private residence in Mohammad Ganj village under the Bisharatganj police station jurisdiction. The action, triggered by a viral video of the prayer gathering, has raised alarming questions about whether Muslims must now seek official permission to perform prayers within the confines of their own homes, potentially violating constitutional protections under Article 25.

Police said the 12 detained persons were charged under Sections related to breach of peace and later produced before a magistrate, who granted them bail. Efforts are underway to trace three other persons who are absconding.

The episode unfolded on January 18 when a group of villagers allegedly spotted over a dozen people performing namaz in an empty house owned by local resident Haseen Khan, a Muslim. According to police statements, the gathering was deemed "unauthorized" and posed a risk to communal harmony in the predominantly rural area. A 31-second video clip of the prayers, captured and shared on social media, quickly amassed thousands of views, prompting complaints from locals who feared it could escalate tensions.

Sub-Inspector Anees, the officer in charge, confirmed to reporters that the house described as vacant and under dispute was being used without prior clearance from authorities. "The attempt to offer namaz without permission in Mohammad Ganj led to the detention of a dozen people as a preventive measure to maintain law and order," he said. Among those who evaded arrest were the house owner Haseen Khan, imam Naushad, and another individual named Salman, who reportedly fled amid the chaos.

Police invoked sections of the Indian Penal Code related to breach of peace (Sections 107/116) for the detentions, emphasizing that the move was not targeted at religious practice but at averting potential unrest. To ensure calm, additional forces were deployed in the village as a precautionary step. SP (South) Anshika Verma said the police received information from villagers that the vacant house was allegedly being used as a temporary madrasa for several weeks. “Conducting any new religious activity or gathering without permission is a violation of the law. Strict action will be taken if such activities are repeated,” she said, while appealing to residents to maintain peace and law and order.

Social Media Erupts: "Is Praying a Crime?"

The viral video has fueled widespread outrage online, with users decrying the arrests as discriminatory and a blatant infringement on fundamental rights. Hashtags like #BareillyNamazArrest and #Article25Violation trended on X (formerly Twitter).

MP Danish Ali wrote, " "Which law in India says that even for worship inside one's own home, permission must be obtained from the government? First, restrictions outside mosques, and now surveillance even inside homes? In Bareilly, UP police detained 12 people who were offering namaz. After all, why are you afraid of quietly performed worship, @myogiadityanath ji?..."

One prominent user, entrepreneur and activist Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank), sarcastically remarked: "12 people arrested in Bareilly (UP) after committing heinous crime of offering Namaz at their private residence. Welcome to New UP of New India 🫡" His post, featuring the viral clip, garnered over 200 likes and shares, highlighting perceived hypocrisy.