Bareilly Violence: Bulldozers Roll as Authorities Crack Down on Rioters Linked to Maulana Tauqeer Raza

After the September 26 violence in Bareilly, the administration has taken strong action. The crackdown has now reached those believed to be behind the unrest. Bulldozers have been deployed against Maulana Tauqeer Raza — identified as the alleged mastermind — and his close associates. The Bareilly Municipal Corporation and Development Authority teams arrived at Sailani Market, where nearly 200 illegally constructed shops were demolished.

Officials stated that those involved in instigating the riots will not be spared. Among the key properties targeted was Raza Palace, owned by Dr. Nafees — a close aide and right-hand man of Tauqeer Raza. Multiple bulldozers were sent to the site, beginning with the gate being torn down before entering the premises to demolish the illegal structure completely.

During the demolition, a large police force was stationed to maintain order and prevent any further disturbances. Authorities confirmed that several other illegal constructions at Sailani Market were also brought down.

Meanwhile, a 14-member delegation from the Samajwadi Party (SP) that planned to meet riot victims was stopped by the police. Several SP leaders were placed under house arrest, sparking political outrage. The violence reportedly began after Friday prayers over the “I Love Mohammad” controversy, which escalated into clashes in the city.

The SP criticized the state government’s move, calling it an attempt to suppress dissent, while the Yogi Adityanath government maintained that law and order would be upheld at all costs. Officials have already arrested over 80 individuals in connection with the riots, including key instigators.

What’s helping the police maintain such tight control? The answer lies in Bareilly’s Smart Command Center — a digital monitoring hub equipped with over 1,200 CCTV cameras covering every corner of the city. On the day of the violence, these cameras captured every movement of the rioters, allowing authorities to identify and detain more than 2,000 suspects. Over 80 have already been charged based on clear video evidence.

Police officials said that as soon as the situation began to escalate, real-time footage from the control room was relayed to senior officers, enabling quick response teams to restore order. The command center continues to act as the “invisible eye” of Bareilly, ensuring constant surveillance and rapid action wherever any unrest occurs.

In another major development, the Allahabad High Court refused to stay the demolition of an illegal mosque built on pond land in Sambhal district. The Muslim petitioner had requested protection against the demolition, but the court advised them to appeal in a lower court. The administration had previously stated that the mosque and an adjoining marriage hall were illegally built on government land.

Locals had requested four days to voluntarily remove the structure, during which they began dismantling parts of it themselves. However, the High Court’s refusal now paves the way for the Yogi government’s bulldozers to continue action against illegal encroachments.

The Yogi administration’s focus on law and order is clear — while one hand deals with rioters, the other continues targeting criminals and gangsters. Under Operation Langda, police across Uttar Pradesh are cracking down on wanted criminals.

In Muzaffarnagar, police eliminated a notorious criminal named Mehtab, who had over 18 serious cases registered against him and a ₹1 lakh bounty on his head. In Meerut, a live-murder accused was shot during an encounter, leaving him limping. Similar actions were reported in Bulandshahr, Amethi, Mathura, and Sambhal, where police arrested or neutralized multiple fugitives.

Officials said the campaign will continue as per Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive “Those who disturb the peace will face consequences so severe that they’ll serve as a warning for generations to come.