What began as a seemingly religious march in support of the “I Love Muhammad” campaign has now snowballed into a law-and-order crisis across parts of Uttar Pradesh. In a series of processions held over the past week, protestors were seen raising radical “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogans, openly challenging public peace and security. The situation turned violent in districts such as Unnao and Bareilly, where mobs clashed with police, hurled stones, tore uniforms, and triggered widespread panic. What was intended to be a symbolic campaign has rapidly transformed into a flashpoint of communal tension, forcing authorities to register multiple FIRs, make dozens of arrests, and tighten security across sensitive regions of the state.
Unnao: Police attacked after arrests
On September 21, tension flared in Manohar Nagar, Shuklaganj (Unnao) when a procession in support of I Love Muhammad was taken out. According to police, several boys shouted radical slogans like “Sar Tan Se Juda” during the march. A viral video of the incident prompted immediate police action, with some youths taken into custody.
Enraged by the arrests, hundreds of locals gathered near the police station carrying I Love Muhammad posters. A clash erupted when police tried to stop them. Protesters allegedly pelted stones, tore police uniforms, and even snatched an SHO’s badge. Police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the mob.
A case was filed against 8 named and 30 unidentified persons for violence, stone pelting, and raising inflammatory slogans. Journalist Kaleem Siddiqui reported that minors were also part of the procession, further complicating the situation.
Officials said the violence in Unnao was partly triggered by an FIR registered earlier in Kanpur against those who installed “I Love Muhammad” boards on public property in Syed Nagar on September 9. The case named nine accused and 15 unidentified persons. Hindu organisations had objected to the boards, calling them a deliberate provocation.
Following the Kanpur FIR, protests spread across UP districts, with I Love Muhammad posters and banners becoming the rallying point.
How quickly “I Love Muhammad” protestors turned into a radical “Sar Tan Se Juda” mob:
Not only in Lucknow, but STSJ slogans were also raised in Bhadohi and Unnao.
Why what gustakhi have we done?
Video 1: Bhadohi
Video 2: Unnao pic.twitter.com/OBg77D6178— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) September 29, 2025
Bhadohi: Viral video of radical slogans
In Bhadohi, panic spread when a large group of Muslim youths marched through Kotwali and Aurai areas, shouting “Gustakh-e-Nabi ki ek hi saza, Sar Tan Se Juda”. Videos of the slogans quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage.
Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik confirmed that the protests were linked to the Kanpur controversy. He said cases have been registered in both police stations and several suspects were detained.
“Strict action will be taken. Public peace is our top priority. No one will be allowed to disturb law and order,” SP Manglik said.
Police stated that the march violated BNS Section 163, which prohibits inflammatory sloganeering and incitement of violence. Teams have been formed to identify all participants from viral videos.
Lucknow: Slogans in Aminabad area
Similar scenes were reported in Lucknow’s Aminabad market, where radical groups raised “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogans during a march. The video of the incident drew sharp criticism, with demands for immediate arrests. Police have tightened security in sensitive areas of the city.
In all affected areas, police have carried out raids, detained suspects, and deployed forces to prevent escalation. Law enforcement agencies are on high alert, monitoring social media and public gatherings.
“Sar Tan se Juda” slogans raised in Lucknow in the name of I Love Muhammad protest.
Video from Aminabad. Kindly act @lkopolice @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/LyUMPrUSYU
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) September 27, 2025
Protests and action in Bareilly
The trouble began after clashes in Bareilly on the night of Friday, September 26. In neighbouring Barabanki district, anger spilt into Faizullaganj village, near the state capital Lucknow, after a banner reading “I Love Muhammad” was torn down, triggering confrontations between locals and police. Similar unrest was reported from the Mau district as the wave of protests spread.
In a stern response to the violence, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing a public function in Lucknow, warned those who foment disorder that the state would act decisively. “The Maulana in Bareilly seemed to have forgotten whose government is in place. He threatened to block roads, but we made it clear: no jam, no curfew will be imposed. We will send a message so strong that even future generations will hesitate to riot,” he said.
Authorities arrested Tauqeer Raza Khan, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council, along with seven others, after accusing them of instigating protests in response to police action over the installation of “I Love Muhammad” posters during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur on September 4. Police say Khan had called for demonstrations following the Kanpur FIR, and cited his role in mobilising the Bareilly protests as grounds for his detention.
CM Yogi on the protests
Addressing a public gathering in Balrampur on September 28, CM Yogi Adityanath came down heavily on those involved in the violent demonstrations triggered by the controversial “I Love Muhammad” posters. Referring to the Bareilly clashes, he warned that miscreants would be dealt with strictly, stating, “They will be beaten just as they were beaten in Bareilly.”
The Chief Minister asserted that the law-and-order machinery in UP is fully prepared to counter any attempt to disturb communal harmony.
Condemning the use of children in protests, CM Yogi lashed out at organisers, calling them “fools” who were ruining lives.
He remarked: “Faith is a matter of conscience, not something to be displayed at crossroads. Some people are creating chaos by giving small children posters of ‘I Love Muhammad’. Their own lives are ruined, and now they are ruining the lives of innocent children.”
He added that the state government would not allow such acts of anarchy: “The government will never accept this kind of disorder. Anyone who attempts to take the law into their own hands will be given a ticket to hell without asking.”
Law and order priority
CM Yogi reiterated that those trying to disturb social harmony were the same groups responsible for keeping Uttar Pradesh backwards under previous governments. He underlined that today’s UP is different, focused on investment, development, and security, and will not tolerate any attempts to derail progress through communal tension.
Following the violence, Bareilly Police detained several individuals, while DIG Ajay Kumar Sahni confirmed the arrest of Maulana Tauqeer Raza. Security has been tightened in Bareilly, Kanpur, and Mau to prevent further escalation.
What happened in Kanpur?
The controversy erupted after police in Kanpur registered an FIR against nine named and 15 unidentified persons for allegedly installing boards with “I Love Mohammad” written on them during a Barawafat procession on September 4. The campaign soon spread to other districts, including Bareilly and Mau, leading to protests and violent clashes with police.
On September 27, protests outside the Ala Hazrat Dargah and the residence of Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan in Bareilly turned violent, prompting police lathi-charge. Later, police arrested Maulana Raza, calling him the “main conspirator” of the unrest, and sent him to judicial custody.
The I Love Muhammad campaign, initially presented as a religious assertion, has increasingly become a flashpoint for communal tension in Uttar Pradesh. Hindu organisations allege that it provides cover for radical sloganeering and mob mobilisation.
With back-to-back STSJ slogans in Unnao, Bhadohi, and Lucknow, the campaign has drawn widespread scrutiny and raised concerns over organised attempts to provoke unrest during the festive season.
