Protesters clashed with police in Bareilly, pelting stones and vandalizing vehicles. Security forces responded with lathi charges and tear gas to restore order.
BY PC Bureau
September 27, 2025: Violence erupted in Bareilly on Friday afternoon amid the ongoing ‘I Love Muhammad’ controversy, leaving several police personnel injured and prompting the arrest of 22 people, including cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. The clashes broke out shortly after Friday prayers, as protesters confronted security forces with stone-pelting and vandalism. Police responded with lathi charges and tear gas.
The unrest centered around Islamia Ground and the residence of Raza, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) and a prominent Barelvi leader. Authorities had denied permission for his proposed sit-in and imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to prohibit gatherings. Despite this, hundreds assembled with placards, chanting slogans and demanding justice over the removal of an ‘I Love Muhammad’ poster in Kanpur earlier this month.
Eyewitnesses reported tension building near Kotwali mosque and Ala Hazrat Dargah. A crowd of over 1,000 surged onto the streets in Shyamganj Market and Baradari, clashing with police during a flag march led by senior officials. At least 10 police personnel were injured, and vehicles were damaged in the stone-pelting. Abandoned slippers, shoes, and stones were strewn across a wide area after the crackdown.
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Inspector General Ajay Sahni said “irresponsible elements” had disrupted public order and assured that video and call records would be used to identify the instigators. By evening, 22 arrests had been made and Maulana Raza was placed under house arrest. Markets in sensitive zones shut down amid fears of escalation, though no civilian casualties were reported.
The controversy began in Kanpur on September 4 when police removed an ‘I Love Muhammad’ banner put up during a Barawafat procession. The move led to FIRs against multiple individuals and sparked counter-protests, including an ‘I Love Mahadev’ campaign in Varanasi, further inflaming communal tensions. Demonstrations later spread to Mau, Lucknow, Unnao, Kaushambi, and even outside Uttar Pradesh.
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‘I Love Muhammad’ march turns violent in Bareilly, with police resorting to lathi charge amid stone pelting. pic.twitter.com/zuNA1oX0R0
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Political reactions have been sharp. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi defended the campaign, asking why a poster of Prophet Muhammad should be treated differently from one of Mahadev. Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai called for interfaith harmony, while RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav accused the BJP government of “inciting violence.”
Raza, a descendant of Barelvi founder Ahmed Raza Khan, had vowed to go ahead with the protest “at any cost.” He already faces charges linked to the 2010 Bareilly riots.
In response to Friday’s violence, heavy police, PAC, and paramilitary deployments remain in place across Bareilly. Authorities have urged citizens to ignore rumors and warned of strict action against offenders. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s administration is monitoring developments closely.
The Bareilly clashes highlight how a religious slogan has escalated into a polarizing flashpoint across several states. While supporters call ‘I Love Muhammad’ a peaceful affirmation of faith, critics view it as a trigger for engineered discord. With tensions still high, security forces remain on alert to prevent fresh unrest.
