A day after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asked all party workers to reach Rampur to protest against the police action against MLA Abdullah Azam Khan, authorities have heightened security across the district and sealed its borders on Thursday, 1 August.
Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator Abdullah, son of SP MP Azam Khan, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police for violating section 144 on Wednesday, 31 July.
However, the police released Azam Khan's son Abdullah and SP supporters on the condition that they would not protest anymore. Police have been deployed outside his residence.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Abdullah was protesting along with his supporters when the police took them in custody.
The district administration had imposed section 144 in the district, which prohibits an assembly of more than five people.
Before the arrest, Abdullah, while speaking to reporters, said, “We are fighting for our rights. This is injustice. People are being framed in false cases. There is no law and order in the State.”
Earlier in the day, police had stopped SP workers in Moradabad who were proceeding towards Rampur with their leader, Dharmendra Yadav for a show of strength for party leader Azam Khan and his son after police carried out raids at a University last week.
"The state government is doing injustice with Azam Khan and his son. If this does not stop, lakhs of Samajwadis will take to the streets. We will fight for Azam Khan and will save the Jauhar University at all costs," said Yadav.
The BACKDROP
Investigation in the case began on 16 June after Zubair Khan, principal of Oriental College in Rampur, earlier known as Madarsa Aliya, lodged a complaint alleging that over 9,000 books were stolen.
On Tuesday, police carried out a raid at the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and recovered more than 100 expensive books allegedly stolen from other institutes in Rampur.
The search was conducted at Mumtaz Central Library, of which Azam Khan is the Chancellor.
WHAT IS THE POLICE SAYING?
Rampur District Magistrate AK Singh told reporters,"We have made adequate arrangements to ensure peace in the city. Borders of the district have been sealed. As prohibitory orders are already in place due to Kanwar Yatra and Eid-ul-Azha, assembly of five or more people will not be allowed."
Rampur SP Ajay Pal Sharma said that over 800 police personnel have been deployed across the district to maintain law and order situation.
Talking about the raid at the University, Police said that 2,500 rare, stolen books, stolen furniture, manuscripts were recovered.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mohammad Ali Jauhar University registrar RA Qureshi on Thursday filed a plea in the Allahabad High Court against raids in its premises by Uttar Pradesh police for allegedly storing books stolen from other institutes.
The high court bench comprising of Justices Shashikant Gupta and Saurabh Shyam Shamshery admitted the plea and directed Additional Advocate General (AAG) Ajit Singh to file the government's response on the matter.
The court posted the matter for hearing on 6 August.
(With inputs from ANI, PTI, IANS)
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