Tensions boiled over in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday when a large crowd marching with “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with police after refusing orders to disperse. The incident, which sparked a riot in the city, has now led to registered cases and ongoing legal action, according to Deputy Inspector General Ajay Sahni.
The trouble started right after Friday prayers. Hundreds of people from the Muslim community gathered, as called for by Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. They carried placards reading “I love Muhammad” and chanted slogans like “Nara-e-Taqbeer” while heading toward Islamia Ground and Khalil School Chowk. Police had warned them to stop, but the group kept moving.
Things quickly escalated when the crowd reached those spots. Officers tried to block them, but protesters turned unruly and began throwing stones at the police. In response, authorities unleashed a baton charge to break up the mob. This triggered chaos, with a stampede-like panic spreading through the streets. Rioters damaged at least two motorcycles and targeted a nearby shop before the crowd finally scattered.
The scene was a mess—slippers, shoes, and stones littered a 200-meter stretch around Khalil Tiraha. Senior officials, including DIG Sahni and the city Superintendent of Police, rushed to the area. They organized a flag march to calm things down and deployed a heavy police presence. Right now, the Bareilly riot situation remains under control, with no fresh reports of unrest.
Authorities had prepared for this. Ahead of the protest, over 4,700 police and Provincial Armed Constabulary personnel stood ready, led by five Additional Superintendents and 13 Circle Officers. They even set up CCTV and drone cameras across the city to monitor the Uttar Pradesh protest.
The “I love Muhammad” campaign has stirred controversy nationwide. In Varanasi, religious leaders countered with “I Love Mahadev” placards at a gathering, drawing sharp criticism. AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi slammed it as a way to socially boycott Muslims. “If someone says ‘I love you,’ what’s the issue? Why target ‘love’ in ‘I Love Muhammad’? And ‘I Love Mahadev’ is fine—it’s their faith. But this sends a bad message to Muslim countries worldwide,” Owaisi told reporters.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also weighed in, questioning a police FIR in Kanpur over the “I Love Muhammad” expression. He called it questionable and wondered about the mindset behind labeling such words as unlawful.
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