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Police connected Saturday (September 27, 2025) detained Tauqeer Raza Khan, a section cleric and main of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, whose telephone for a protestation supporting the 'I emotion Muhammad' campaign led to a convulsive clash betwixt demonstrators and constabulary aft Friday prayers successful Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, officials said connected Saturday (September 27, 2025).
“Tauqeer Raza has been taken into custody, and further ineligible proceedings are nether way. The concern is peaceful and nether control,” Bareilly SSP Anurag Arya told the media.
VIDEO | Uttar Pradesh: Heavy constabulary deployment successful Bareilly aft clashes. Visuals from Novelty Chauraha.
Clashes broke retired betwixt locals and constabulary extracurricular a mosque successful Bareilly aft Friday prayers erstwhile respective protestors gathered successful enactment of a run connected the telephone of local… pic.twitter.com/uopuYu6Vw4
The detention followed a time of hostility successful Bareilly wherever a ample assemblage carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters clashed with constabulary extracurricular a mosque successful the Kotwali country aft Friday (September 26) prayers.
The assemblage was reportedly aggravated implicit the last-minute cancellation of a projected objection called by Raza, who claimed the authorities denied support for it.
Over 2 twelve radical were detained pursuing the clash, which saw stone-pelting and vandalism.
According to constabulary sources, Mr. Raza released a video connection connected Friday (September 26) nighttime challenging the authoritative communicative of the clashes, claiming that helium was prevented from addressing his followers and enactment nether location arrest.
In the video, Mr. Raza could beryllium seen congratulating the demonstrators injured successful Friday’s clashes. "I compliment each those youths who took portion successful this programme. Those who were injured are besides worthy of congratulations,” helium said.
Mr. Raza besides expressed regret implicit his “inability” to taxable a memorandum to the president of India done District Magistrate Avinash Singh aft the Friday prayers, flagging what helium termed “continuous attacks connected Muslims” and seeking ineligible involution successful the matter.
Claiming that his efforts were deliberately thwarted, Mr. Raza said, “I entreaty to everyone to peacefully spell to their homes. As has happened each time, I was placed nether location arrest.” He besides alleged that mendacious accusation was circulated nether his name.
“A fake letterhead carrying my sanction was used, and a mendacious connection was published,” helium claimed.
The DM and SSP arrived astatine his determination conscionable arsenic helium was astir to permission for the Friday (September 26) prayers, called for much force, and placed him nether location arrest, Mr. Raza claimed.
He besides warned that attempts to suppress spiritual sentiments would backfire.
“The much constabulary effort to suppress this issue, the much it volition travel to the fore. If attempts are made to halt spiritual matters, nary 1 volition stay silent.”
“Had I gone for the Friday prayers, thing similar this would person happened. Lathis were deliberately utilized connected Muslims, against whom mendacious accusations person been levelled,” helium claimed.
“I americium presently nether location arrest. I would beryllium blessed if I were arrested. Just similar [gangster] Atiq Ahmad was shot, sprout maine arsenic well. The authorities is liable for 140 crore people. Intolerance towards 1 radical is unacceptable.” “This time, determination was nary Hindu-Muslim conflict; constabulary committed atrocities against Muslims,” helium claimed.
Meanwhile, DM Singh and DIG Ajay Kumar Sahni said the unit was the effect of a planned conspiracy, calling it an effort to disrupt bid contempt the imposition of Section 163 of BNSS successful the state, which prohibits unauthorised assemblies.
"A fewer days ago, an organisation projected holding a march connected Friday and submitting a memorandum successful enactment of a protest. We informed them that written support would beryllium needed for immoderate specified programme, arsenic Section 163 of the BNSS (power to contented bid successful urgent cases of nuisance oregon apprehended danger) is successful effect passim the district,” DM Singh said connected Friday (September 26). Despite this, immoderate radical took to the streets aft the Friday prayers and tried to disrupt peace, helium said.
The contention dates backmost to September 9, erstwhile constabulary successful Kanpur filed an FIR against 24 persons for allegedly installing boards with ‘I Love Muhammad’ written connected them during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession connected September 4.
Some Hindu groups objected to it, calling it "deviation from tradition" and a "deliberate provocation".
The contention soon dispersed to respective Uttar Pradesh districts and to states similar Uttarakhand and Karnataka, sparking protests and constabulary crackdowns.
The enactment besides drew the attraction of AIMIM main Asaduddin Owaisi, who asserted that saying "I Love Muhammad" was not a crime.
