A protest over an ‘I Love Muhammad’ graffiti on a road in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar took a violent turn on Monday, according to officials cited by PTI. Police had to use batons to disperse a stone-pelting crowd that blocked the Ahilyanagar-Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar road, despite an arrest being made in connection with the graffiti.
"The protest began this morning at Kotla in Kotwali area after someone had painted 'I Love Muhammad' on the road, which was objected to by members of the Muslim community. A complaint was lodged at Kotwali police station against this graffiti," an official told PTI.
"Despite one person being arrested in connection with the graffiti, some people protested. Even as police urged them to maintain law and order, some persons from the mob started pelting stones. Police resorted to lathi-charge to restore normalcy," the official said.
Ahilyanagar Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge informed that 30 people have been detained in connection with the protests, road blockade as well as stone pelting.
"We used force to maintain law and order. Police is taking action against the accused persons. The situation is under control. Citizens must not believe in or spread rumours," Gharge was quoted.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said authorities will ascertain whether deliberate attempts have been made to disturb peace in the state.
“I was travelling, so I do not know what exactly happened. But I would like to say that we must investigate if there is a conspiracy behind this. Is someone trying to disrupt communal harmony? During the Lok Sabha election, similar attempts to polarise were made. We will have to investigate this,” he was quoted by NDTV.
The slogan ‘I Love Muhammad’ hit headlines on September 4 when Kanpur police registered a case against 24 individuals for allegedly installing such boards during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession. Hindu groups objected, calling it a “deliberate provocation.” In the aftermath, similar posters and slogans have emerged across multiple regions of the country.
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