Case Over Group Namaz At Home Cancelled As UP Cops Say Found No Evidence

Case was registered over "mass gathering to offer namaz" at a house "without prior permission", but investigation found no such thing, say cops

The Uttar Pradesh Police has cancelled the case it registered over a "mass gathering to offer namaz" at a house "without prior permission", saying that investigation found no such thing having taken place. ग्राम दूल्हेपुर में वादी चन्द्रपाल आदि ने सामूहिक नमाज पढ़ने को लेकर PS छजलैट पर मुकदमा पंजीकृत कराया था,विवेचना उपरान्त घटना का प्रमाणित होना नहीं पाया गया।अतः विवेचना को मय जुर्म खारिजा रिपोर्ट समाप्त(एक्सपंज) किया गया है। इस सम्बन्ध में #SSP@moradabadpolice की बाईट।#UPPolicepic.twitter.com/kqZKU1UEI6

The first-information report (FIR) on August 24 had been registered against 26 Muslims at Dulhepur village in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district. Police had cited "objections from neighbours" and booked the namazis under Indian Penal Code's Section 505-2 (mischievous statements in a gathering performing religious worship). 

The village does not have a mosque, and some residents have been objecting to gatherings for namaz, even if inside homes. 

After the case, there were angry reactions on social media, alleging bias and lack of logic. "I'm sure if one of the neighbours had a hawan with 26 friends and relatives that would be perfectly acceptable. It's not the 'mass gathering' that is the problem; it's the offering of namaz," tweeted Omar Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.