Violent clash breaks out in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar over ‘I Love Mohammed’ row, 30 arrested

September 29, 2025

Ahilyanagar: On Monday, a riot broke out in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, over the writing “I love Mohammad” on the road using rangoli. The Muslim community protested and blocked the Pune-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar highway. When police arrived to clear the blockade, protesters began pelting stones. Police then resorted to a mild lathi charge to clear the crowd.

Police are currently deployed in the area. The person who created the rangoli has been arrested.

Understand the whole matter

“I love Mohammad” was written on the road in Kotla village near Ahilyanagar on Monday morning using rangoli. The Hindu organization Hindustan Shiv Pratishthan had organized a Durga Mata Run on this road. Upon receiving the news around 7 a.m., members of the city’s Muslim community took to the streets, shouting slogans, and blocked the Pune-Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar highway.

This caused hundreds of vehicles to gather on both sides of the village. When police arrived and tried to clear the blockade, the crowd began pelting stones. The police then resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

SP Sonath Gharge said that the police have detained about 30 people who pelted stones.

Fadnavis said – this is a conspiracy

CM Devendra Fadnavis said of the Ahilya Nagar incident, “It appears to be a conspiracy. An attempt is being made to disturb the peace in the state by creating tension. An investigation will be conducted and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.”