The Bareilly police said Tuesday that they shot at and injured the district president of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) during an “encounter” and arrested 17 more people in connection with last week’s clashes over the ‘I Love Muhammad’ row. Local authorities also launched sealing and demolition drives against associates of IMC president Maulana Tauqeer Raza, who has been accused of “masterminding” the violence that erupted after Friday prayers.The latest round of arrests has taken the total number of people held over the violence to 73 since September 26. Bareilly Additional SP Manush Pareek said those arrested were in two categories: those allegedly “involved in planning the conspiracy” and those who allegedly “attacked the police after Friday prayers”.IMC chief Raza was among the first to be arrested, on Saturday, followed by his associate Nadeem Khan and SP corporator Anees Saqlani. On Tuesday, Pareek said the police also arrested IMC’s district president Tazim after the alleged encounter during which he was shot in the leg.“These are the main conspirators who have been taken into custody. The others arrested were part of the mob — those who pelted stones at police, ran away with police belongings or opened fire. These arrests were made only after full verification, with people identified through videos of the clashes and based on information confirming their presence at the spot,” he said.According to Pareek, Tazim was allegedly armed with a country-made pistol at the time of his arrest. “He was the one responsible for firing at the police after Friday prayers. Used cartridges from the pistol had been seized from the ground. He is a history-sheeter with previous cases of cow slaughter and under the Gangsters Act. When the police went to arrest him, he fired back, which led to the encounter,” he said.The officer added that Tauqeer’s relative, Mohsin Raza, is still absconding and “we are on the lookout for him”. Police said Mohsin, the son-in-law of Tauqeer’s elder brother Mannani Mian, has been booked for criminal conspiracy in connection with the clashes.Meanwhile, officials from the Bareilly Development Authority (BDA) said Mohsin’s 12×14 ft garage, which was allegedly built illegally over a drain, was demolished by the municipal corporation amid heavy police deployment. “That is a separate investigation being carried out by the development authority,” Pareek said.Story continues below this adLocal authorities also sealed a marriage lawn in the Nariyawal locality owned by Haji Sharafat Khan, a close aide of Tauqeer, for allegedly providing refuge to some of the accused in the violence.Officials said nearly 74 shops near the dargah at Novelty Chauhara, as well as around 30-35 shops in Kotwali, were sealed for encroachment. Three hotels owned by Arif Ansari, a businessman who owns properties across Bareilly, were also sealed on allegations of sheltering the riot accused.BJP’s UP minister in-charge for Bareilly, J P S Rathore, said: “No one is above the law. Rioters will not be spared. Any kind of anarchy, illegal occupation or (land) map tampering will not be tolerated. Wherever irregularities are found, strict action, including the use of bulldozers, will be taken.”The violence broke out on September 26 after police stopped people carrying “I Love Muhammad” placards from assembling post Friday prayers. While most dispersed, some in the crowd allegedly hurled stones, raised slogans, and opened fire. Video clips showed police chasing protesters. At least 10 policemen were injured.Story continues below this adAccording to police, 10 FIRs have been lodged over the violence, with 260 accused identified, and another 2,800 unidentified. “Of the 73 arrested, some are among the named accused, others were recognised while we were watching the CCTV footage,” Additional SP Pareek said.