Lagatar24 Desk
Bareilly: Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested two close aides of cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan following an encounter in the Fatehganj Paschimi area. The accused, Mohd Idris alias Bora (50) and Iqbal alias Bundan Khan (48), had allegedly snatched a constable’s anti-riot firearm and fired at police during the September 26 Bareilly clash that erupted after Friday prayers.
Encounter and Recovery of Weapons
Police said the Special Operations Group (SOG) and CB Ganj police cordoned off a canal area when the suspects opened fire in an attempt to flee. Both were injured in retaliatory fire and later overpowered. Authorities recovered the stolen anti-riot gun, two country-made pistols, live and spent cartridges, a motorcycle, and mobile phones. SSP Anurag Arya vowed strict action, stating that no one involved in the unrest would be spared.
Criminal Records and Ongoing Crackdown
According to police records, Idris has over 20 criminal cases against him, while Iqbal faces 17, including robbery and Arms Act violations. Earlier, Bareilly Police had arrested a key suspect named Tazim, accused of firing at police officers during the violence. So far, 72 individuals have been arrested in connection with the “I Love Muhammad” march clashes. Officials confirmed that Tazim, known as a cattle smuggler with a history under the Gangster Act, was among those detained.
