The ongoing “I Love Muhammad” campaign flared into violence on Friday as stone-pelting, police lathi-charge, and clashes were reported from Bareilly, Mau, and other districts across Uttar Pradesh. Bareilly witnessed the worst escalation, where a massive crowd gathered near the city’s Islamia Ground after Friday prayers in response to a call by cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza to hold a demonstration supporting the campaign.
District magistrate Avinash Singh confirmed that police, PAC, and RAF personnel were already deployed in anticipation of trouble. “After Friday prayers, some people tried to disrupt peace at three locations. Our forces acted swiftly and dispersed the crowds within an hour. Around 15-20 people have been taken into custody, and the city is now peaceful,” he said.
How row began
The row began on September 4 in Kanpur during Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi processions, when an “I Love Muhammad” lightboard was put up on a tent along the route in a mixed neighbourhood. Local Hindu groups objected, alleging it was a provocation. Police removed the banner and relocated the tent, triggering protests. FIRs were filed against nine named and 15 unidentified persons for installing the structure without permission.
In the days that followed, demonstrations spread to other cities in Uttar Pradesh and beyond, with Muslim groups describing the FIR as an affront to their faith and a form of social boycott. Hindu groups responded with “I Love Mahadev” and “I Love Mahakaal” banners, further polarising the situation. Social media hashtags such as #ILoveMuhammad trended nationally, amplifying the standoff.
Violence in Bareilly
On Friday, soon after Juma prayers, hundreds of people converged near the Islamia Ground despite prohibitory orders. Police say the crowd swelled as some participants shouted provocative slogans and insisted on marching to the ground. When police stopped them, the protest turned violent.
This story was originally published in news18.com. Read the full story here.