Bareilly violence: Key witness alleges Rs 5 lakh contract to 'silence' him; jailed corporator, his wife & son face FIR

BAREILLY: A key eyewitness in the September 26 Bareilly violence case has alleged that a plot has been hatched to kill him by offering a Rs 5 lakh contract in an attempt to derail the trial. On his complaint, police lodged an FIR against nine people, including jailed corporator and IMC office-bearer Anees Saklani, his wife Yasmeen Jahan and their son Adnan.The complainant, Mohd Firdaus Khan (35), told police that he assisted authorities during the clashes over ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters and later helped identify several accused using video clips and photographs. He said that due to this reason, the accused got angered with him.Police said Furqan, a resident of Pilibhit district, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly agreeing to carry out the killing. A country-made pistol, cartridges and Rs 20,000, suspected to be part of the advance payment, were recovered from him.SSP Bareilly Anurag Arya said we're verifying the claims and doing thorough investigations. The accused is being questioned. According to the FIR, Firdaus alleged that Saklani and his associates believed he had testified against them and held him responsible for their continued incarceration. Firdaus alleged that on December 18, Adnan and others intercepted and threatened him, accusing him of ensuring their leaders remained in jail. He claimed they (accused) demanded Rs 10 lakh, citing mounting legal expenses, and warned him of consequences if the demand was not met.He further stated that on December 26 he received information that Yasmeen Jahan met Saklani and two other accused inside jail, where a plan to kill him was allegedly finalised. Following this, Furqan was allegedly contacted and tasked with monitoring Firdaus’s movements.Police said Furqan has multiple criminal cases against him and told investigators he first met Saklani while both were lodged in Pilibhit jail in 2022. After his release, he shifted to Bareilly, where he ran a tea stall. He claimed Yasmeen later approached him and gave him cash and a firearm.On Sept 26, violence broke out after police prevented supporters from the minority community from assembling with ‘I Love Muhammad’ placards following Friday prayers. The situation escalated into alleged stone-pelting and firing, leaving at least 10 cops injured. IMC president Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan is among those arrested, and several charge sheets have been filed in the case.