“I Love Mohammad” uproar in Bareilly after Friday prayers; Police detain Maulana Tauqeer Raza

September 26, 2025

Bareilly: On Friday, riots erupted at three locations in Bareilly over the “I Love Mohammad” controversy. Police resorted to lathi-charge to control the situation, chasing and beating people. This led to a stampede.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza had appealed to Muslims to protest at the city’s Islamia Ground. After Friday prayers, the crowd took to the streets and insisted on forcibly entering the ground.

The police stopped them. At this point, the crowd began vandalising the area, shouting religious slogans. The police tried to stop them, but the crowd became violent and started pelting stones. To control the situation, the police resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas shells.

There was also unrest in the Baradari and Premnagar areas. Police closed markets in the city.

Currently, police have detained Maulana Tauqeer Raza. Maulana Tauqeer Raza is the president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC). He is also accused of instigating the 2010 riots in Bareilly. The case is currently in court.

Bareilly DIG Range Ajay Kumar Sahni, District Magistrate Avinash Singh, and several other officers are on the scene. 3,700 police personnel have been deployed. Reinforcements have been called in from nine surrounding districts. Officials are urging people to stay indoors. Drones and paramilitary forces are patrolling sensitive areas.

Cases have been registered, and legal proceedings are underway following the riot.

During the protest, rioters vandalised at least two motorcycles and targeted a shop. To control the situation and quell the unrest, the police undertook a baton charge. Following the charge, the crowd dispersed.

Slippers, shoes, and stones were scattered within a 200-metre radius of Khalil Tiraha.

Upon receiving information about the deteriorating situation, DIG Sahni, the Superintendent of Police, City, and other senior police and administrative officials immediately arrived at the scene. A flag march was conducted in the area to restore peace and prevent any further incidents. Currently, a heavy police force is deployed in the area, and the situation is reported to be under control.

Speaking to reporters, DIG Sahni said: “A case has been registered, and legal proceedings are being ensured.”

Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan had announced on September 26 that a crowd would gather at Islamia Ground after Friday prayers and march on foot to the Collectorate. Following the Maulana’s announcement, members of the Muslim community gathered across the city after Friday prayers. In anticipation of protests, a large police force was deployed across the city. The police administration assigned 4,700 police and PAC personnel, led by five Additional Superintendents and 13 Circle Officers (COs), to ensure security. CCTV and drone cameras were also installed.

AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi reacted to the recent controversy over the “I Love Muhammad” posters and the counter-campaign where placards reading “I Love Mahadev” were displayed at a gathering in Varanasi by religious leaders.

“If someone says, ‘I love you,’ then what’s the problem? What’s the problem with writing ‘love’? What message do you want to send to Muslim countries around the world with this? What’s the problem with ‘I Love Mahadev’? It should be done; it’s their faith. This is a way of socially boycotting Muslims,” said Owaisi.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also objected to the FIR lodged by police in UP’s Kanpur for the use of the expression “I Love Muhammad.”

Abdullah questioned the legality of the FIR and the mental stability of those who believe such an expression is “unlawful.”