The Uttar Pradesh Police have launched a major crackdown on a group of young men operating under the name ‘Haidri Dal Bareilly’ who were allegedly harassing women spotted in public with men from other religious communities.
The group’s actions, described by authorities as both disturbing and illegal, involved targeting young women, confronting them in public spaces such as parks, filming these encounters, and uploading the footage with objectionable commentary on social media.
Officials said that the group’s actions were communal and aimed at creating social disharmony, in direct violation of public order laws.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, taking strong note of the situation, reiterated his government’s zero-tolerance stance on the harassment of women, stressing that “anyone who intimidates, threatens, or targets women will face the full force of the law.”
“Targeting women in the name of religion or culture will not be tolerated in Uttar Pradesh,” the Chief Minister said in a high-level review meeting on law and order.
“Those engaging in such unlawful and socially divisive acts will be dealt with strictly. The safety and dignity of our daughters are non-negotiable.”
The Bareilly Police began investigating the group nearly three weeks ago after videos surfaced on social media showing members of ‘Haidri Dal Bareilly’ confronting girls from their community who were seen in the company of men from other religions.
The videos, which appeared to be filmed at Gandhi Udyan Park, showed the girls visibly distressed and uncomfortable as the group members made remarks about “modesty” and “morality.”
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya said the police acted swiftly once the videos came to light, registering an FIR at Kotwali police station and ensuring the content was taken down from online platforms
. “We are committed to maintaining communal harmony and protecting the rights and dignity of every citizen, especially women,” Arya stated.
So far, five members of the group—all in their 20s—have been arrested. The first four arrests were made within days of the initial complaint, and the fifth, identified as 20-year-old Nabi Hasan, was apprehended earlier this week.
Hasan, a madrasa student from Shahjahanpur, had allegedly created an Instagram account under the name ‘Haidri Dal 25’, through which he disseminated objectionable, communal, and provocative content.
Further investigation into Hasan’s phone revealed disturbing footage of him allegedly sexually harassing a minor boy.
As a result, he has been charged under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, in addition to criminal intimidation and other penal offences. Police said he had also issued threats to silence the victim.
Authorities revealed that the group had been collecting funds through two bank accounts—both now seized—and were operating a coordinated campaign aimed at enforcing moral policing based on religious lines. Another similar Instagram account was found to be active and is currently under scrutiny.
Two other members, Sehbaz alias Sufiyan and Sameer Raza, were identified as the individuals who recorded and circulated the Gandhi Udyan video.
They were arrested and sent to jail. Based on their disclosures, the police later nabbed two more individuals—Jaish, a Unani medicine student, and Shanu, an engineering student—for uploading the videos with inflammatory commentary.
Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam confirmed that two more individuals involved with the group have been identified, and efforts are underway to arrest them.
The case has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 353: Statements causing public mischief
- Section 196: Promoting enmity between groups based on religion
- Section 79: Insulting the modesty of a woman
- Section 126: Wrongful restraint
The UP government under CM Yogi Adityanath has consistently sent a strong message on women’s safety, emphasizing that no individual or group will be allowed to take the law into their own hands in the name of religious or cultural policing.
“As per the Chief Minister’s directives, anyone involved in harassing, threatening, or trying to control women’s freedom—especially under communal pretenses—will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent,” said SSP Arya.
With the group’s activities now firmly under the scanner, the administration has reaffirmed that it stands committed to protecting women’s rights and upholding the rule of law in the face of growing online vigilantism.