Arbitrary arrests, targeted demolitions after Bareilly ‘I Love Muhammad’ demonstration: APCR report
Bareilly : A fact-finding report by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has alleged severe procedural violations, arbitrary arrests, and targeted demolitions following the “I Love Muhammad” demonstration in Bareilly. The report concludes that the state’s response amounted to collective punishment and criminalisation of a religious expression.
The demonstration, led by Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, was intended to submit a memorandum supporting the I Love Muhammad campaign after police in Kanpur filed an FIR against Muslims for displaying banners during Eid-Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. Despite prior announcements, the Bareilly administration denied permission for the protest. On September 26, 2025, a large crowd gathered after Friday prayers, most dispersing peacefully before clashes broke out in some areas.
According to the report, police used force without prior warning, leading to injuries and chaos. Over ten FIRs were filed that night, implicating more than 2,000 people, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza, with charges ranging from rioting to offences against the state. The APCR found these FIRs “vague, repetitive, and excessively harsh,” accusing the authorities of using grave criminal sections without evidence of armed rebellion or hate speech.
By October 7, at least 89 people had been arrested, many allegedly without being informed of the reasons or shown arrest memos. The report documents claims of minor Muslim detainees being picked up and held without access to legal counsel. Lawyers told the fact-finding team that FIR copies were withheld, delaying legal recourse.
The APCR also condemned the demolition of properties belonging to Muslims accused in the protests, including the Raza Palace banquet hall owned by a close aide of Maulana Raza, and several shops in Pehalwan Markaz Market, a waqf property under judicial dispute. Shopkeepers told investigators that the sealing occurred without notice, under heavy police presence, and in violation of court stay orders.
The report highlights economic losses, suspension of internet services, and the heavy deployment of armed forces in Muslim-majority areas, creating what it calls a “climate of fear and repression.” Witnesses described contrasting scenes, deserted Muslim neighborhoods under surveillance, and unaffected Hindu-majority areas operating normally.
The APCR concluded that state authorities acted with disproportionate force, failed to follow due legal procedures, and violated fundamental rights of assembly and religious freedom. It called for an independent inquiry into police actions, restoration of due process, and accountability for officers involved in unlawful force or property seizures.
The organisation urged the National Human Rights Commission and the judiciary to intervene, ensure the release of those arrested without proper legal grounds, and initiate disciplinary proceedings against officials responsible for arbitrary actions.
The report frames the Bareilly incident not as an isolated case but as part of a larger trend of criminalising Muslim expression in the name of law and order.
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Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
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The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
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"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
