Bareilly: Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday detained cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, after his call for a protest in support of the ‘I Love Muhammad’ campaign led to violent clashes in Bareilly. Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya confirmed that Raza was taken into custody and said the situation was now peaceful.
The unrest began on Friday after prayers when a large crowd carrying ‘I Love Muhammad’ posters clashed with police outside a mosque in the Kotwali area. Officials said the protest was not permitted under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which prohibits unauthorised assemblies.
In a video statement released later, Raza challenged the police version, claiming he was placed under house arrest before the clashes and prevented from addressing his followers. He congratulated the injured protesters, accused authorities of suppressing Muslim voices, and alleged that “false information” was circulated in his name using a fake letterhead.
“If I had been allowed to attend prayers, nothing like this would have happened. Police deliberately used lathis on Muslims and levelled false accusations,” Raza claimed. He added, “I would be happy if I were arrested. Just like Atiq Ahmad was shot, shoot me as well. The government is responsible for 140 crore people, not just one community.”
District Magistrate Avinash Singh and DIG Ajay Kumar Sahni dismissed Raza’s claims, calling the violence a “planned conspiracy” to disrupt peace. Singh said authorities had denied permission for the protest march, yet groups still gathered after Friday prayers.
The controversy originated earlier this month when Kanpur police filed an FIR against 24 people for installing boards reading “I Love Muhammad” during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession on September 4. Hindu groups objected, calling it a deviation from tradition and a deliberate provocation. The row quickly spread to other districts in Uttar Pradesh and states including Uttarakhand and Karnataka, sparking protests and police crackdowns.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also weighed in, asserting that saying “I Love Muhammad” was not a crime and condemning police action against demonstrators.
The Bareilly episode has now placed Tauqeer Raza at the centre of the controversy, with authorities preparing further legal action against him as security forces remain on alert to prevent fresh unrest.
