Prohibitory orders imposed in Bareilly amid festival season, exam schedule

Bareilly (UP), Feb 3 (PTI) The Bareilly district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS with immediate effect in view of upcoming festivals, board examinations and

intelligence inputs warning of possible attempts to disturb law and order, officials said on Tuesday.

District Magistrate (DM) Avinash Singh said the decision was taken keeping in mind the violence that erupted in Bareilly on September 26 last year and tensions following a recent controversy over new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.

He said intelligence agencies have cautioned that “some anti-social elements may try to disrupt communal harmony” in the sensitive district.

Bareilly is set to witness major religious occasions such as Mahashivratri, Holi and Shab-e-Barat in the coming days, besides the conduct of board examinations, the DM said, adding that maintaining peace and public order is the administration’s top priority.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), earlier Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), prohibits the assembly of five or more persons at any public place. Any organisation or group wishing to hold a protest, demonstration or procession will have to obtain prior written permission from the competent authority. Government officials on duty have been exempted from the restrictions.

The DM said that for security reasons, no outsider will be allowed to stay in hotels, lodges or cyber cafes without producing a valid identity proof. Pasting posters or writing on walls of public or private property without the owner’s permission has also been banned and violators will face action under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

Carrying sticks, rods, swords, knives or any other sharp-edged weapons on public roads has been prohibited, except for on-duty personnel and elderly persons who require a walking stick for support. The order also imposes a complete ban on storing acid, bricks, stones or any explosive material in houses or shops, the officials said.

The administration said Supreme Court guidelines will be strictly enforced to curb noise pollution. Loudspeakers will remain banned between 10 pm and 6 am.

Permissions for public meetings or election-related campaigning will be granted only between 6 am and 10 pm, and that too subject to the condition that students and patients are not inconvenienced. Equipment used in violation of the rules will be seized immediately.

The district administration said it will adopt a zero-tolerance approach against rumour-mongering and the circulation of provocative material. Printing or displaying posters, articles or delivering speeches that promote religious or social hatred have been prohibited. Legal action will be initiated against those making objectionable remarks against revered personalities or spreading rumours, the officials said.

Special instructions have also been issued in view of the board and other examinations. Photocopy and computer shops located within a 200-metre radius of examination centres will remain closed during exam hours to prevent paper leaks and curb malpractice, the DM said. PTI COR KIS KSS KSS