UP: Eight, including Muslim cleric, held after clashes in Bareilly linked to ‘I love Muhammad’ row

The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday arrested eight persons, including local Muslim cleric and Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Tauqeer Raza Khan, in connection with a violent clash that broke out after Friday prayers in Bareilly linked to the “I love Muhammad” row, PTI reported.

The Ittehad-e-Millat Council is a regional party in Uttar Pradesh.

A local court sent Raza and seven others, identified as Sarfaraz, Manifuddin, Azeem Ahmed, Mohammed Sharif, Mohammed Aamir, Rehan, and Mohammad Sarfaraz, to 14-day judicial custody.

Authorities have also detained 36 persons for questioning after identifying them from video footage of the incident, PTI reported.

District Magistrate Avinash Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya, speaking at a press conference on Saturday, claimed that Raza was the main conspirator behind the unrest, the news agency reported.

The violence took place when a crowd carrying “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with police outside a mosque in the Kotwali area.

The unrest reportedly followed the last-minute cancellation of a protest called by Raza in support of the campaign. He said authorities had denied him permission for the demonstration, PTI reported.

Police alleged that Raza delivered speeches that provoked the crowd, the news agency reported.

VIDEO | Uttar Pradesh: Heavy police deployment in Bareilly after clashes. Visuals from Novelty Chauraha.

Clashes broke out between locals and police...

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