On September 30, 2025, Bareilly police arrested Maulana Mohsin Raza, the son-in-law of Mannani Miya, elder brother of prominent Islamic cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza, in connection with the violent protests that took place on September 26. Authorities also launched a crackdown on properties linked to Mohsin Raza, targeting illegal constructions. Among them was a garage built on encroached land over a drainage line. Additionally, officials sealed a marriage lawn owned by Haji Sharafat Khan, a close associate of the cleric.
Sixteen individuals involved in the September 26, 2025, attack on police personnel in Bareilly, using firearms, bricks, stones, and acid bottles, have been arrested, according to Anurag Arya, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bareilly.
The SSP stated that authorities have recovered a significant cache of materials from various locations, including large quantities of stones, broken police barricades, blades, spent cartridges, and wooden sticks. “We are currently reviewing CCTV footage and video recordings to identify more culprits,” he added.
To maintain law and order, security has been heightened across Bareilly and nearby areas. Police carried out flag marches on Tuesday, involving personnel from local police stations and the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC). In sensitive zones, drones are being deployed for aerial surveillance.
The unrest on September 26 followed a call for protests by Islamic cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief, Tauqeer Raza Khan. The protests were triggered by alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet made in various parts of the country, including Shahjahanpur, and by controversy surrounding “I Love Muhammad” posters displayed during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur. The posters drew objections from right-wing Hindu groups, who claimed it was a deviation from traditional practices. In response, Kanpur police registered cases against 24 individuals.
