Slogans, flags in UP city ‘cheer’ Hafiz Saeed’s release in Pakistan; admin orders probe

LAKHIMPUR KHERI: Police were on their toes in Lakhimpur city on Friday morning after members of a community allegedly celebrated the release of Mumbai terror attack mastermind and co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan. Some residents of Begum Bagh colony in Shivpuri area allegedly decorated their houses with green flags and also raised slogans like ‘Hafiz Saeed zindabad’ and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. The issue was immediately brought to district magistrate Akashdeep’s notice after which police force was rushed to the colony.

Officials said that the administration acted promptly as members of some right wing groups had started gathering in the area. “We received reports of slogans and flags being raised in support of Hafiz Saeed in the area. I have asked police to deeply investigate the matter and ensure peace in the city,” Akashdeep told TOI.

On Friday morning, Kotwali police first received information about 20-25 youths from Begum Bagh celebrating the release of Hafiz Saeed. While initially, the cops did not take the issue seriously, they swung into action after the matter was reported to the DM. “We rushed to the colony and found that some residents had decorated their houses with green flags. We removed all such flags and also assured members of right wing outfits that the matter will be thoroughly investigated,” Kotwali police station in-charge Pradeep Shukla told TOI.

“We have got video evidence to prove that youngsters from the colony were celebrating the release of Hafiz Saeed. They even waved Pakistani flags and raised slogans such as ‘Hafiz Saeed zindabad’ and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’,” said the leader of a right wing outfit in the area.

When asked about the incident, Ashfaq Qadri, Lakhimpur-based Iman, said, “I am not aware if someone raised anti-national slogans. As far as green flags are concerned, many people started celebrating Juloos-e-Mohammdi, which is on December2, from Friday. It had nothing to do with Hafiz Saeed or Pakistan.”