After Friday’s (September 26) violent clashes in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, police on September 27 arrested Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, sending him to judicial custody. The arrest comes amid heightened tensions after his last-minute decision to postpone a demonstration in support of the controversial “I Love Muhammad” campaign triggered unrest in the city.
Police have so far registered 10 FIRs against 2,000 people, several of them unidentified, and confirmed the arrest of 39 accused. Authorities also suspended internet services in Bareilly, citing the misuse of social media platforms to mobilise crowds and incite violence.
On Friday, large crowds holding “I Love Muhammad” posters gathered outside Khan’s residence and near the mosque in the Kotwali area after Friday prayers. Anger spilt over when Khan announced that the demonstration had been postponed due to a lack of administrative permission.
By evening, groups attempted to march towards the Islamia Inter College ground, but were stopped by police at Khalil Tiraha, sparking stone-pelting, vandalism, and even firing at security personnel.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Bareilly Range) Ajay Kumar Sahni said, “A large number of weapons and stones have been recovered from the protestors. Police personnel were fired at, and 22 policemen sustained injuries. Empty shells, pistols, cartridges, and broken glass bottles have been seized from the site.”
Responding sharply to the violence, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that “a maulana in Bareilly forgot who holds power in the state and assumed he could disrupt the system at will.”
At an event in Lucknow, Adityanath declared: “The lesson we have taught will make future generations think twice before indulging in riots. Before 2017, this was the norm in UP. But since 2017, we haven’t even allowed curfew to be imposed. Uttar Pradesh’s story of development begins here.”
The CM further accused previous governments of shielding and honouring rioters: “Rioters were welcomed, professional criminals and mafias were saluted by those in power. You must have seen how the head of the government felt proud shaking hands with a mafia’s dog.”
Initially, Maulana Khan was placed under house arrest but later moved to an undisclosed location for questioning. Police are now scrutinising phones and digital records of Khan and his supporters to determine their role in orchestrating the violence.
Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya confirmed Khan’s formal arrest on Saturday.
Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, the founder of IMC, has been politically active in western Uttar Pradesh for more than two decades. He is a descendant of Ahmed Raza Khan, the founder of the influential Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam, which commands significant following across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The violence unfolded near the Islamia ground and the Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat, the most revered shrine of the Barelvi sect. These areas became the flashpoints of confrontation, with police vehicles, shops, and private property vandalised.
On Friday night, Adityanath chaired a high-level video conference with top officials, directing “strict and uncompromising action” against those involved.
Police have vowed that more arrests will follow, as investigations continue into the network behind the mobilisation. Authorities believe that social media played a central role in spreading provocative messages that drew large crowds.
For now, Bareilly remains under heavy security deployment, with paramilitary forces stationed outside sensitive sites, including dargahs and mosques.
