Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Tuesday fixed February 24 for hearing the bail application of Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Taukir Raza in a Bareilly violence case.The order was passed by Justice Ashutosh Srivastava on the bail application of Raza. As per the police case, on Sept 26, Raza had given a call for members of a particular community to assemble at Islamiya Inter College in Bareilly. Despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of Bhartiya Nyay Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) being in force, a crowd of about 500 people gathered, proceeding from Maulana Azad Inter College towards Shyamganj Chauraha, which ultimately resulted into violence. The crowd, holding boards and raising provocative slogans, paid little heed to the warning and persuasions made by the police personnel at the spot. The situation escalated when the accused became aggressive and they became adamant to proceed. Thereafter, stones and acid bottles were allegedly thrown at the police force from the accused persons in the crowd and gun shots were also fired from the crowd at the police personnel. According to the FIR, in the ensuing violence, the clothes of police personnel were torn and two officers sustained injuries. It was alleged that the aggressive action of the crowd created an atmosphere of terror in the area, forcing the police authorities to open fire in self-defence.
