Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan was preparing to demonstrate his influence by gathering a huge crowd at Islamia ground after Friday prayers. Ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, he also wanted to showcase his stature to political parties. IMC’s former district president, Nadeem Khan, revealed this crucial information during police interrogation.
According to Nadeem Khan, for the past one and a half years, Maulana Tauqeer had failed to draw large crowds in Bareilly. During this time, he grew increasingly concerned about his identity and declining influence. The sensitive case of I Love Muhammad that emerged from Kanpur appeared to him as an opportunity- by using it as cover, he could gain a foothold among Muslims of Western UP and project himself as their leader.
Through this strategy, the Maulana could also strengthen his political base and further solidify ties he had been maintaining with Congress, SP, and BSP. In an attempt to prove himself as an influential Muslim leader, he wove the web of unrest that led to such a major commotion in Bareilly. For his political gains, he incited hundreds of Muslim youths and triggered violence on Friday.
Fake Letter and Incendiary Strategy
Before being sent to jail, Nadeem Khan confessed that he, along with spokesperson Dr Nafees, had orchestrated the real plot. They forged the signature of state media in-charge Liaqat Khan and submitted a letter to the police claiming the protest had been called off. This decision had actually been taken after discussions with officials and with Maulana Tauqeer’s consent.
But when the letter circulated in the party’s group, Maulana objected upon seeing Liaqat’s name. Munir’s faction provoked him, saying that his name had been misused without his presence. The letter was then branded as fake, and Maulana released a video declaring it forged. This fueled his stubborn insistence on holding the gathering and created a charged atmosphere.
Factional Rivalry Escalated the Situation
Police investigation revealed that Maulana’s close aides were divided into two factions—one led by Nadeem and Nafees, and the other by Munir Idrishi, Anees Saklaini, and Ahsanul Haq. Sometimes Maulana listened to one faction, sometimes to the other. This time, when Nadeem issued the letter, Munir’s faction worsened the situation.
Nadeem claimed that he was trying to pacify people and was telling them over the phone not to go to the Islamia ground. However, police maintain that Nadeem himself is a prime accused, and the information he provided will help arrest other culprits and investigate the case.
31 Accused and District President Sadiq Arrested
According to SSP Anurag Arya, after Maulana was placed under house arrest, police operations intensified. Initially, Nadeem fled to Katra (Shahjahanpur) but was caught. Meanwhile, Baradari police arrested Umed, Mustakeem, Arbaaz, Kaleem, Mobeen, Nazim Raza, Mohsin, Shakib, Rafiq, Jainul, Tauheen, Faisal, Arshad, and Subhan. Late at night, IMC district president Sadiq Khan, a resident of Faridpur, was also taken into custody.
