Bareilly News | 'I Love Muhammad' Row Escalates, 12 Arrested In UP's Bareilly, Clashes In Mau

Chaos erupted as police launched a lathicharge to counter reported stone pelting by protestors after Friday prayers in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, the latest stand-off in a row that began weeks ago over an 'I Love Muhammad' poster. A huge crowd gathered near Bareilly's Islamia ground after Friday prayers in response to a call by Maulana Tauqeer Raza, local cleric and chief of Ittehad-e-Millat Council, to hold a demonstration in support of the 'I Love Muhammad' campaign. Similar such demonstrations have been held across the country after an FIR was lodged in Kanpur against 9 named and 15 unnamed persons after a tent with an 'I Love Muhammad' poster was removed by the police on September 4. Soon after the Friday prayers, the crowd gathered amid heavy police presence. The crowd continued to swell as some allegedly raised objectionable slogans. After some protesters allegedly pelted stones at the police, the police launched a lathicharge to control the situation. After the crowd was dispersed, slippers, shoes, and stones were strewn about within a 200-metre radius of protest site. At least 12 people have been arrested in connection with the clashes. NDTV's Shubh Bhardwaj brings you the details.