Lucknow, 23 July: Uttar Pradesh police arrested a fifth individual on Saturday in connection with the unlawful offering of namaz on the premises of a retail mall.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Rajesh Kumar Srivastav informed “Mohammad Adil, a resident of Chaupatiya in Lucknow, was detained.”
“The accused was one of many who delivered religious prayers without permission on the mall premises,” he added. This comes three days after four people were detained in connection with the case.
The officer stated that attempts are being made to apprehend the other accused. None of those detained are employees of the Lulu Mall.
The arrests came after Adityanath instructed the administration on Monday to take stern measures against those “hell-bent on vitiating the environment” in state. On July 13, a video of individuals offering namaz at Lulu Mall went viral on social media. A Hindu organisation protested to the namaz being held on mall premises and requested permission to recite the Hanuman Chalisa there.
On July 14, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha conducted a sit-in at the entrance to Lulu Mall. Shishir Chaturvedi, claiming to be Mahasabha’s national spokesperson, said that persons from a specific community were permitted to worship within the mall. He has previously stated that mall officials should allow Hindus and people of other faiths to pray within the mall.
“Lulu Mall respects all religions,” stated Sameer Verma, general manager of the mall in Lucknow, in a video message. “Religious work or prayer of any sort is not authorised here. We teach our workers and security personnel to be on the lookout for such acts,” he added.
On July 15, two persons were arrested and at least 15 others were detained for causing a commotion as they attempted to enter the mall without permission. Following the incident, local police have increased security around Shaheed Path.
Adityanath inaugurated the Mall earlier this month in the presence of top party leaders.
