BAREILLY (UTTAR PRADESH): Local cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza was arrested on Saturday after protests in support of the ‘I love Muhammad’ campaign spiralled into violence in Bareilly. Officials said a huge crowd had gathered outside his residence following a video appeal he released endorsing the campaign.
Arrests and cases filed
Police confirmed that Raza is being interrogated. Seven others were also arrested, while more than 40 people have been detained in connection with Friday’s unrest. A case has been registered against 1,700 unidentified persons under charges including rioting, obstruction of government work, and assault on police personnel.
During Friday prayers, the situation turned chaotic as protesters clashed with police. Stone pelting was reported, prompting a lathi charge to disperse the mob. At least 10 policemen were injured, officials said.
Videos from the scene showed large crowds outside Ala Hazrat Dargah and Raza’s residence, holding placards reading ‘I love Muhammad’ and shouting slogans. Heavy security deployment continues at both locations.
Wider unrest linked to the campaign
The ‘I love Muhammad’ campaign has triggered tensions in several states. Earlier this week, violence broke out in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district where shops and vehicles were damaged. In Karnataka’s Davangere, posters with the campaign slogan sparked stone-pelting between groups.
Similar unrest was reported from Uttar Pradesh’s Mau, Unnao, Maharajganj, Lucknow, and Kaushambi, where police used baton charges to restore order.
Origins of the controversy
The row began on September 4 in Kanpur during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession, when an ‘I love Muhammad’ poster was placed at a location associated with Hindu festivals like Ram Navami. Local Hindu groups alleged it was a deliberate provocation, while Muslim groups said they were being targeted for expressing religious sentiments.
The issue soon spread to social media, where #ILoveMuhammad began trending. In response, religious leaders in Varanasi launched a counter-campaign with ‘I love Mahadev’ placards, calling it a reaction to what they termed “provocative attempts” to disturb communal harmony.
Authorities promise stern action
Senior officials in Bareilly have directed local authorities to take strict action against those disturbing normalcy. Security across the city remains heightened, with police and paramilitary forces deployed to prevent fresh violence.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also asked district administrations to remain vigilant in sensitive areas as protests linked to the campaign continue to spread.