Arrest in Shamli follows social media uproar over provocative expression of faith and communal tensions
The police in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested a man named Dilshad, a resident of Kudana village, after he was seen in videos circulating widely on social media. The footage depicted him writing “I love Muhammad” on his chest and waving the national flag. His arrest has drawn attention amidst ongoing tensions in the state related to religious expressions.
According to reports, a complaint against Dilshad was lodged by a local individual named Nishikant, who alleged that Dilshad’s actions were insulting to Hinduism and included verbal abuses directed at him. Shamli Deputy Superintendent of Police Amardeep Maurya confirmed that an investigation is underway to ascertain Dilshad’s motives and the context of his actions.
This incident occurs in the backdrop of a larger controversy that began on September 4, when a group of Muslims displayed an “I love Muhammad” banner during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur. The display drew criticism from Hindu groups, which claimed it introduced a “new tradition” that was not in keeping with established customs. The police responded by asserting that government regulations prohibit the introduction of new customs into religious processions, leading to the filing of cases against 24 individuals for allegedly disrupting communal harmony.
In the aftermath of the Kanpur incident, protests erupted in various districts across Uttar Pradesh and other states, with demonstrators carrying “I love Muhammad” banners. Some of these protests escalated into confrontations with law enforcement, resulting in additional legal actions being taken against participants.
On Tuesday, tensions further escalated in Bareilly, where police shot the district president of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council in the leg after he reportedly fired at them during an attempted arrest related to the ongoing unrest surrounding the “I love Muhammad” posters. The Ittehad-e-Millat Council is a regional political party led by Tauqeer Raza Khan, who was arrested on Saturday and placed in 14-day judicial custody.
The clashes in Bareilly reportedly arose after a crowd displaying “I love Muhammad” posters confronted police outside a mosque in the Kotwali area. This unrest was linked to the cancellation of a protest that Raza had organized to support the campaign, a cancellation attributed to authorities denying him permission. In the aftermath of his arrest, local authorities have taken further measures, sealing and demolishing properties associated with Raza’s affiliates, which has intensified the situation in the region.
