‘I Love Muhammad’ Row Escalates In UPs Bareilly, Police Resort To Lathicharge

Lucknow: Tensions flared in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly on Friday following violent clashes between police and protestors, in the latest escalation of a controversy surrounding an ‘I Love Muhammad’ poster. The unrest erupted after Friday prayers, as police reportedly resorted to a lathi charge to control a large gathering that turned hostile, allegedly involving stone-pelting.

The protests are linked to a week-old row that began in Kanpur after authorities removed a tent displaying an ‘I Love Muhammad’ poster during a religious procession. The incident has since sparked outrage among sections of the Muslim community, culminating in Friday’s volatile situation in Bareilly.

#WATCH | Visuals from the 'I Love Mohammad' protests in Bareilly, UP, after Police deployed lathi charge as protestors pelted stones during the protests after the Friday prayers. pic.twitter.com/3SAb9HFLug — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2025