In Bareilly district’s Mohammadganj village, 12 Muslim men were taken into police custody on Friday for allegedly performing Friday prayers (Jumu’ah) inside a vacant house without administrative permission. The men were later presented before a magistrate and released on bail.
According to local police, villagers had reported that the vacant house had been used for several weeks as a temporary madrasa or prayer space, despite the absence of any legal authorization. Acting on this information, the police carried out the operation and detained the individuals.
Police stated that those praying in the house had not obtained permission under the law, and the gathering was therefore considered a “new religious assembly” that could potentially disturb public order. Legal notices were issued against the men under provisions related to disruption of peace, and all were subsequently produced before a magistrate and granted bail.
The case drew widespread attention after a video showing the men praying inside the house went viral on social media. The video was widely shared, generating comments and further discussion on the matter.
Senior police officer SP (South) Anshika Verma said that unauthorized or unregulated religious or social gatherings could affect local peace and order. She urged residents to obtain administrative permission for any such activities and to respect the law.
The incident has raised legal questions regarding the right to religious freedom and worship on private property, particularly in areas where mosques or adequate prayer spaces are lacking. Many have questioned whether restricting religious practices in private homes aligns with constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
