Lucknow, Oct 5 – Two men who spread a doctored image of Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have now come forward with an apology and are being held in judicial custody.
The incident gained national attention after the picture, edited to look like a personal photo of the CM, went viral on social media following the violent protests in Bareilly on September 26. The unrest began after Friday prayers when a large crowd marched in the streets carrying banners that read “I Love Muhammad.” When police asked them to disperse, the crowd turned hostile, hurling stones at officers and prompting a lathi charge. The riots caused damage to property, and several people were arrested.
Shortly after the protests, the two men—identified as Asif Saifi and Imran—posted the mutated photo online. Public outrage grew, and the police quickly registered a case under the IT Act. During questioning, the men admitted their wrongdoing. According to a video released by the police, the men said, “Sir, we are at fault. Please forgive us.”
Both men were taken to court, where the judge remanded them to judicial custody. Their apology comes amid a broader crackdown on those who stir social unrest. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already warned that anyone who tries to divide society under the banner of caste or religion will face severe consequences. His government has deployed bulldozers and other measures to deter such actions.
As investigations continue, authorities are keeping a close watch on the broader fallout from the Bareilly violence, following the arrest of local cleric Tauqeer Raza on September 27 and other suspects linked to the unrest.
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