India: Maulana Tauqeer Raza Arrested as Police File 10 FIRs Against Hundreds in ‘I Love Muhammed’ Crackdown

BAREILLY — Prominent Muslim cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza was arrested on Saturday along with seven others, a day after being placed under house arrest. His detention comes amid a sweeping police crackdown linked to the “I Love Muhammed” campaign.

According to officials, police have registered 10 FIRs across different stations in Bareilly, each naming 150–200 individuals, collectively implicating hundreds of Muslims. The charges include promoting enmity, unlawful assembly, disobedience of authorities’ orders, obstructing public servants, rioting with deadly weapons, and even waging war against the state under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.

Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya said the action was necessary to “maintain law and order.”

Rights groups and community leaders, however, condemned the arrests, calling them an attempt to intimidate Muslims and suppress dissent. Heavy police deployment remains in place across sensitive areas of Bareilly, with prohibitory orders still in effect.