2 held after reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Lucknow Lulu mall: Police
Lucknow, Jul 16: Two people were arrested after they entered the Lulu Mall here on Saturday and started reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, police said.
At least 15 others were detained for creating a ruckus while trying to enter the shopping mall.
Confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Gopal Krishna Choudhary said, "Two people entered the mall, sat on the floor and started saying religious prayers. They were arrested after being handed over to the police by the mall's security staff."
Shortly after the duo were held, members of a right-wing group tried to enter the mall. They too were detained by police and released with a warning not to create a ruckus.
This comes after police lodged an FIR under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295A (deliberate act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against a group of unidentified people who allegedly offered namaz at the mall recently.
A controversy broke out after a video purportedly showing a group of people offering namaz at the mall surfaced on social media.
A right-wing outfit had objected to people offering namaz inside the mall and sought permission from the authorities concerned to recite the Hanuman Chalisa there, which was declined.
The case was registered on a complaint from the representatives of the mall, who claimed that those seen in the video were not their staff members.
The mall authorities also put up notices across the property on Friday, declaring "no religious prayers will be permitted in the mall".
The mall was inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on July 10. It has been opened by the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu Group, led by Indian-origin billionaire Yussuf Ali M A.
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Bengaluru: Commercial building fire brought under control, two rescued
Bengaluru (PTI): A fire broke out in a multi-storey commercial building here on Friday evening, following which two people who were trapped on the terrace were safely rescued, officials said.
The incident occurred at around 5.30 pm at a commercial building located on Coles Road, they said.
However, no casualties were reported, officials added.
According to officials, the blaze started on the terrace, where a pantry and storeroom are located. The situation led to panic as the building is located adjacent to a petrol bunk, raising fears of a possible explosion.
Two people trapped on the terrace due to the fire were rescued by a police team along with Fire and Emergency Services personnel, a senior police officer said.
Four fire tenders were pressed into service, and after nearly an hour of intense firefighting, the blaze was brought under control.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
