Internet services in Bareilly remained suspended on Friday, October 3, amid heightened security following last week’s unrest over the “I Love Muhammad” poster controversy.

Authorities had imposed the suspension of mobile internet, broadband and SMS services in the district from 3 pm on October 2 until 3 pm on October 4, according to a notification issued by the state home department, news agency PTI reported.

The situation has been tense since September 26, when clashes broke out between police and locals after the cancellation of a protest linked to the poster row. The confrontation saw incidents of stone pelting and was followed by a series of arrests by the Uttar Pradesh police.

According to The Indian Express, a total of 82 people have been arrested so far, including Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Khan, for their alleged involvement in the violence. Police said that in a “shootout,” two of the accused were also shot in the legs.

The Opposition has strongly criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh over its handling of the situation.

“All they want is to hype the issue and create propaganda around it. You can see this in Sambhal and now here in Bareilly. The Yogi government wants to divert attention from Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of vote theft,” said UP Congress chief Ajay Rai.

Appealing for calm ahead of Friday prayers, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, general secretary of the All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam, urged people to avoid gatherings.

“After offering namaz, people should go straight home, or to their work if they are traders, and not become part of any crowd at any time, no matter who calls them,” said Razvi.