Protests erupted in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday following Friday prayers, where a group of people, holding “I Love Mohammad” placards, gathered outside the Ala Hazrat Dargah and the residence of Ittehad-e-Millat Council chief Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan. The situation escalated when some individuals in the crowd reportedly started pelting stones during a police flag march, prompting police to use a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and detain several protesters.

In response to the incident, Uttar Pradesh State Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna stressed that “No one is allowed to take the law into their own hands under the Yogi government…the government and administration will surely take their course.”

Bareilly SSP Anurag Arya confirmed the stone-pelting, stating that after the crowd did not comply with police instructions, the police used “minimal force” to disperse them in accordance with their training.