Tension simmered in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly on Sunday after Islamic cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan announced a protest march and his intention to court arrest. Following his announcement, he was put under house arrest.

He had earlier declared that he would lead a foot march to the District Collectorate at 1 PM.

Anticipating unrest during the protest, the administration placed heavy police deployment outside his residence and put him under house arrest.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza had planned to stage the protest against the state government. As a precautionary measure, a strong security cordon was set up at his home in Bareilly, with senior police and administrative officials present on the scene.

Authorities feared that the protest could disturb public order, especially in light of Tauqeer Raza’s recent provocative remarks, some of which were directed at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The administration adopted a firm stance following the protest announcement, stressing that no leniency would be shown if law and order were threatened.