Police clashed with protesters carrying “I Love Muhammad” banners in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, who shouted slogans like “Allahu Akbar” and created a ruckus after the Friday prayers.
A large crowd reportedly
gathered to submit a memorandum to the government and demanded to enter the Islamia Ground. Protesters also pelted stones at the police, and videos on social media showed people being dragged away as the demonstrations turned violent. The Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and paramilitary forces were also deployed in the area.
As the situation escalated, police resorted to lathi-charge protesters to restore order. This is the latest in a wave of demonstrations in cities like Lucknow, Bareilly, Kaushambi, Unnao, Kashipur, and Hyderabad since the ‘I Love Muhammad’ row began earlier this year.
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh: After Friday prayers, people protested carrying “I Love Muhammad” banners, chanting slogans such as “Allahu Akbar.” When police tried to calm the protesters and the situation got out of control, they resorted to a baton charge to restore order pic.twitter.com/QEO85o5j5P
— IANS (@ians_india) September 26, 2025
Bareilly, UP: Tension erupted after Friday prayers as muslims carrying an “I Love Muhammad” banner raised religious & provocative slogans.
When crowds insisted on entering Islamia Ground, police intervened. Stone-pelting broke out, forcing police to use lathicharge to disperse… pic.twitter.com/wFRJEfJOx2
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 26, 2025
Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza had announced a sit-in protest at Islamia Ground on Friday over the issue of “I Love Mohammad” posters, alleging instances of derogatory remarks against the Prophet in different parts of the country, including Shahjahanpur.
In response, Bareilly authorities conducted a flag march as a clear message that any attempt to disturb peace would not be tolerated. District Magistrate Avinash Singh declared Section 163 of the BNS in the area, prohibiting any form of protest without permission.
Large-scale deployment of police and paramilitary personnel was also put in place in Bareilly, with SP City Manush Pareek, SP South Anshika Verma, SP North Mukesh Chandra Mishra, SP crime, SP traffic, City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri, ADM, SDM, COs, women SOG members and around 50 inspectors taking part in the march.
What Is ‘I Love Muhammad’ Row?
The slogan ‘I Love Muhammad’, which first appeared during a Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession in Kanpur’s Rawatpur on September 4, has since sparked protests and street processions by Muslim groups across multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
The controversy began when a group displayed an ‘I Love Muhammad’ banner along the Barawafat route, which drew objections from local Hindu groups. They alleged that a “new tradition” was being introduced in a space historically used for religious celebrations. Police intervened promptly to defuse tensions.
