MEERUT, June 30 -- Police in Bareilly have escalated their search for Imam Riyazuddin, a key suspect in the investigation against Haidari Dal, a group accused of faith-based vigilantism and harassment of women. The crackdown follows a series of arrests after a viral video from June 7, 2025, purportedly showed group members confronting women in Gandhi Udyan Park during Bakrid celebrations. The 22-year-old imam from Majhua village under Faridpur police station is believed to be central to the group's financial and operational planning. According to officials, Riyazuddin circulated a QR code on social media to collect donations, which were used to produce provocative videos posted on Instagram handles like 'Haidri Dal Bareilly' and 'Haidari Dal 25'. These videos frequently targeted women from a particular community, seen with men from other communities under the guise of moral policing. Following complaints, the police registered an FIR at Kotwali police station under Sections 353 (public mischief), 196 (promoting enmity), 79 (insulting modesty of a woman), and 126 (wrongful restraint) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have arrested six individuals linked to the group. On June 24, the founder of Haidari Dal, Nabi Hasan, was taken into custody. Authorities recovered 40 objectionable videos from his mobile phone. Earlier arrests include Unani medicine student Jaish Ahmad and engineering student Shanu on June 15 for circulating inflammatory material. On June 8, Shahbaz Raza alias Sufiyan and Sameer Raza were held for harassing women at Gandhi Udyan Park. Two others, Riyazuddin and Mufti Khalid, are still on the run....