The city of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh witnessed chaos on Friday after a peaceful protest over the “I Love Muhammad” campaign turned violent following a police crackdown. The demonstration, led by cleric Maulana Tauqeer, was initially organized to demand the withdrawal of FIRs filed against Muslims in Kanpur who displayed banners with the slogan. Eyewitnesses claim that the gathering was mostly calm, with participants intending to submit a memorandum after Friday prayers. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when police resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas, sparking panic among the crowd and leaving several protesters injured.

Reports suggest that the Uttar Pradesh police had already issued warnings against disturbing public order, citing earlier unrest linked to the campaign. Officials allege that the protest spiraled when some individuals began pelting stones, prompting the deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) units to disperse the crowd. Civil rights groups, however, argue that the police used excessive force against what was largely a peaceful gathering, describing the crackdown as disproportionate and aimed at silencing expressions of religious sentiment.

The controversy stems from a series of FIRs—21 in total—naming more than 1,300 Muslims and leading to dozens of arrests after demonstrations in Kanpur earlier this month. Activists with the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) say the crackdown reflects an alarming trend of criminalizing Muslim identity-based assertions. Critics have also raised concerns that the state’s hardline approach risks inflaming communal tensions instead of promoting dialogue and reconciliation. The Bareilly incident has since drawn nationwide attention, with videos of the clash widely shared online and political parties weighing in on the debate over the right to peaceful protest.