Bareilly witnessed chaos on Friday (26 September) after the controversial ‘I Love Muhammad’ row escalated into violent clashes at multiple locations. The unrest began when cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza, president of Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), urged Muslims to gather at Islamia Ground in protest. Following Friday prayers, large groups of people took to the streets, insisting on entering the ground despite police restrictions.
When the crowd was stopped, they turned violent, resorting to sloganeering, vandalism, and stone-pelting. Eyewitnesses reported that stones were hurled even from rooftops, forcing police to respond with a lathi charge to regain control. Panic spread as people ran through narrow lanes to escape police action.
Tauqeer Raza Detained Amid Unrest
Tension further mounted with reports of disturbances in Baradari, Shyamganj, and Premnagar areas of the city. Police ordered market closures to prevent escalation. Later, Maulana Tauqeer Raza was taken into custody. Notably, the IMC chief has faced similar allegations before, with a case already pending against him for allegedly instigating communal violence in Bareilly in 2010.
At Shyamganj market, one of Bareilly’s biggest wholesale and grocery hubs, security forces deployed heavily after stone-pelting targeted police personnel. Markets were shut down as a preventive measure. Currently, authorities confirmed that additional police forces, drones, and CCTV surveillance have been deployed across Bareilly to ensure law and order.
IG Claims Situation Under Control
Bareilly Range IG Ajay Sahni said the majority of worshippers completed prayers peacefully and returned home, but “a few miscreants” attempted to create unrest. He confirmed that incidents occurred in at least three to four parts of Bareilly, where over 10 police personnel sustained injuries due to stone-pelting and firing. Sahni also stated that some weapons were seized, hinting at a pre-planned conspiracy.
He assured that the situation was now under control, saying, “The city is safe, security is in place, and video evidence is being collected to identify miscreants. Strict action will follow.” Media persons covering the violence were also injured in the clashes. Police have registered FIRs in multiple cases, including against officers who allegedly mishandled the situation.
Mau Also Faces Violence After Prayers
Similar scenes unfolded in Mau district after Friday prayers. A group of people attempted to take out a procession in support of ‘I Love Muhammad’. Despite police warnings, they continued raising slogans and marching through the streets. The situation turned volatile, prompting police to launch a lathi charge to disperse the mob. Visuals from the scene confirmed police action as protesters ran for safety.
Reports suggest that the clash began in Muhammadabad Gohana locality, where police tried to stop the procession. When heated arguments broke out, officers resorted to force to prevent the situation from spiralling further.
Controversy Traced Back to Kanpur
The ‘I Love Muhammad’ dispute first surfaced in Kanpur on September 4 during the Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession. A group had installed a banner and light board reading “I Love Muhammad” along the procession route, sparking objections from local Hindu organisations. Police intervened, removing the banners and filing cases against nine named and 15 unidentified individuals.
Since then, the row spread rapidly across multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh and beyond, with pro-Muslim groups organising rallies and displaying similar banners. In retaliation, several Hindu groups began counter-campaigns with “I Love Mahadev” and “I Love Mahakaal” banners, further polarising communities.
Authorities on Alert Across UP
Friday’s incidents in Bareilly and Mau are being viewed as part of this widening controversy. Police confirmed seizure of evidence, including video footage of stone-pelters and those involved in inciting violence. Investigations are underway to identify the masterminds and perpetrators behind the violence.
While officials assured that the situation is now “normal” in Bareilly and Mau with heavy police deployment, authorities remain on high alert. With tensions still simmering over slogans and banners, the state administration is closely monitoring developments to prevent further flare-ups.
