Over 4,500 Muslims booked, 265 arrested after ‘I Love Muhammad’ banners row: Civil rights group

A total of 4,505 Muslims were booked and 265 arrested in 23 cities till October 7 after a controversy erupted last month about banners saying “I Love Muhammad” at Muslim religious processions, a civil rights group has said.

In a fact-finding report published on Friday, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights added that 45 first information reports had been filed in a span of 30 days.

The report also alleged disproportionate police action and administrative targeting of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly after clashes broke out in the district on September 26 in connection with the banners.

It added that 89 persons had been arrested in Bareilly as of October 8.

The row began on September 4, when a group of Muslims held an “I love Muhammad” banner during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur. Hindu groups had objected to the banner, claiming that a “new tradition” was being introduced at the procession.

The police claimed that government rules prohibited introducing new customs into religious processions. On September 9, the police filed cases against 24 persons, of whom 15 were unidentified, for allegedly introducing a new custom during the procession and disturbing communal harmony.

However, the police action sparked protests and processions with “I love Muhammad” banners in several districts of Uttar Pradesh...

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