A huge uproar erupted in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, after Friday prayers as part of the “I Love Mohammad” campaign. Supporters of Maulana Tauqeer Raza had come to the city to submit a memorandum when the crowd suddenly became violent.
The police responded with a cane charge against the rioting mob. In order to maintain law and order, 12 companies of the RAF and the RRF have been sent to the area.
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
In turn, authorities in Bareilly carried out a flag march to deliver the unambiguous message that any disturbance of peace would be actionable. District Magistrate Avinash Singh, instituted Section 163 of the BNS (Bareilly, Noida, Rules), which prohibited any protest without prior permission.
There was also a mass gathering of police and paramilitary personnel to Bareilly, where a team led by 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; and around 50 inspectors engaged in a flag march.
In the midst of the ‘I Love Muhammad’ controversy, ‘I Love Mahadev’ signage emerges in Varanasi
On Thursday in Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ‘I love Mahadev (Lord Shiva)’ posters were found at multiple spots, including temples and mutts. Hindus seers stated that these posters were in response to ‘I love Mohammed’ posters which recently appeared in several towns across the state.
Reports indicate that the ‘I love Mahadev’ posters were pasted on walls in various locations in Varanasi by Sanatan Sena, a saffron outfit, followers of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Narendrananda.
The controversy began earlier this month in Kanpur when some people erected a tent and displayed a sign reading, “I love Mohammed.” As part of a procession to celebrate the Barawafat holiday.
The police removed the tent and the sign, which led to protests from the Muslim community. A case was filed against 24 individuals regarding this incident. This sparked a controversy that soon spread to other towns within the State and to a couple of other States, where public displays of similar signs prompted police action.
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