TL;DR: Violence broke out in Bareilly after a rally supporting the 'I Love Mohammad' campaign was postponed. Protesters clashed with police, who used force to disperse the crowd. No major injuries were reported, and the situation is now calm.
📌 What Happened
- A protest in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, turned violent on September 26, 2025, after the 'I Love Mohammad' rally by Maulana Tauqeer Raza was postponed due to lack of permission.
- After Friday prayers, a large crowd gathered near Raza’s residence and a mosque, refusing to disperse and demanding the rally continue.
- Protesters began pelting stones, damaging vehicles and raising provocative slogans; police responded with a lathi charge.
📌 Police Response
- District Magistrate Avinash Singh said, “The situation is under control now. No untoward incident has been reported. We are appealing to people to maintain peace and harmony.”
- Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam added, “We are conducting flag marches in the affected areas to maintain peace.”
- Police confirmed no injuries reported and no FIR filed yet; some protesters were detained.
📌 Background and Context
- The incident follows an earlier FIR in Kanpur over a board displaying “I Love Mohammad” during the Barawafat procession on Sept 4.
- The Kanpur FIR, filed on Sept 10, named 24 individuals related to alleged tearing of religious posters, not the board itself.
- Tensions have since spread to other states including Uttarakhand, Telangana, and Maharashtra, sparking protests and debates.
📌 Current Situation
- Heavy police deployment continues in Bareilly’s sensitive areas.
- Authorities are maintaining flag marches and patrolling to prevent further unrest.
- The administration continues to urge peace and public cooperation.