A peaceful protest in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, organized by Maulana Tauqeer, turned violent on Friday, September 26, as police used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse demonstrators demanding the withdrawal of FIRs linked to the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign.
A video of the incident circulating on social media shows several protesters being struck, raising questions about the proportionality of the police response.
The protesters had gathered after Friday prayers to submit a memorandum, urging authorities to review the FIRs registered in connection with the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign, which followed actions against similar banners in Kanpur.
Despite prior warnings from the UP police against disturbing public order, the protest reportedly escalated when some participants began pelting stones, prompting authorities to use force. Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel were deployed to restore order, highlighting the heavy-handed response to what was initially a largely peaceful protest.
Earlier, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) reported that 21 FIRs had been filed, naming 1,324 Muslims and resulting in 38 arrests, in connection with demonstrations against Kanpur’s Barawafat procession and banners displaying the slogan.
The incident has drawn criticism over the authorities’ handling of religious expressions, with many questioning whether such stringent measures were necessary against a mostly peaceful demonstration. (Sources)
