Bareilly: Clashes Erupt After ‘I Love Muhammad’ Protest is Denied Permission

Bareilly: Tensions flared in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday as locals clashed with police outside a mosque following afternoon prayers. The conflict began after a planned protest was cancelled at the last minute by local authorities.

Large crowds had gathered near the mosque in the Kotwali area, reportedly in response to a call from Maulana Tauqeer Raza, a local cleric and head of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council. They came to support the “I Love Muhammad” campaign, but their frustration grew when they learned the event would not be allowed to proceed.

Videos shared on social media showed people arguing and clashing with police officers, who were equipped with batons. Senior officials quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation.

“The situation is now normal and under control,” District Magistrate Avinash Singh later told reporters. “No untoward incident has been reported. We are appealing to people to maintain peace and harmony.”

The controversy began earlier this month in Kanpur, on September 9. Police there filed a case against several individuals for putting up boards with “I Love Muhammad” written on them during a public procession. This action drew criticism from some Hindu organizations, who called it a “new trend” and a deliberate provocation. The issue gained more attention when AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi posted on social media that expressing love for Prophet Muhammad is not a crime.