Protest in Bareilly Turns Violent After 'I Love Muhammad' Rally Blocked

Tensions erupted into open confrontation in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday after local authorities made a last-minute decision to revoke permission for a peaceful "I Love Muhammad (PBUH)" rally, an event organized by prominent Islamic scholar Maulana Tauqeer Raza.

The abrupt cancellation, communicated mere hours before the gathering was set to begin, sparked immediate outrage, leading hundreds of worshippers to stage a spontaneous protest near the Kotwali Mosque following afternoon prayers.

As demonstrators voiced their frustration against what they perceived as a discriminatory act, the situation swiftly escalated; police intervened with baton charges in an attempt to disperse the assembled crowd, a move that culminated in clashes and the subsequent detention of at least twelve individuals.

This government action has drawn sharp condemnation from community leaders and rights activists, who argue that the blocking of a pre-planned, peaceful assembly is a provocative tactic designed to suppress Muslim voices under the thin veil of maintaining law and order, thereby exacerbating social divisions rather than fostering communal harmony.