‘I Love Muhammad’ row: Muslim cleric Tauqeer Raza arrested over Bareilly violence, 'illegal' properties under scrutiny

Islamic cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan ( File Photo- PTI)

A day after violent clashes broke out in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly, police on Saturday arrested Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) president Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan and seven others in connection with the incident. A local court sent Raza and seven others to 14-day judicial custody for allegedly masterminding the violence, police said.

Additionally, 'illegal' properties held by the cleric are also under scrutiny, according to several media reports.

Raza, a local cleric and chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, whose call for protest supporting the 'I love Muhammad' campaign led to chaos in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, was arrested on Saturday. According to officials, quoted by NDTV, a huge crowd, which continued to swell, had gathered outside Raza's house after he posted a video in support of the campaign.

Massive chaos erupted in Bareilly after Friday prayers as the police launched a lathi charge to counter stone pelting by protesters who were holding demonstrations in support of the 'I love Muhammad' campaign. Officials said that 10 policemen were injured in the clash. Videos showed a huge crowd gathered outside Raza's house, raising slogans and holding placards with 'I love Muhammad' written on them.

The controversy began on September 4 during the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, when a 'I love Muhammad' poster was put on a tent along the route. Local Hindu groups argued that the poster was deliberately installed at a location where Hindu festivals like Ram Navami are celebrated.

Soon after, tensions rose between the two communities. While the Hindus alleged that their posters were torn and taken down, Muslims claimed that they were targeted for expressing love for the Prophet. The issue also made it to social media with #ILoveMuhammad trending online.