The incident began when a group of youths in the procession raised the slogan, 'I Love Muhammad.' Residents of Khadak Galli objected to the slogan.
Published Oct 04, 2025 | 4:57 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 04, 2025 | 4:57 PM
Some people objected to the 'I Love Muhammed' slogan, which led to the tension.
Synopsis: A section of people objected to the ‘I Love Muhammed’ slogan raised during the Urs procession, when it passed through an area dominated by Marathis. Though a couple of stones were thrown, no one was injured. Police brought the situation under control and are investigating the incident.
Tension prevailed in Belagavi late on Friday, 3 October, after allegations of stone-pelting during the Urs procession of the Mehboob Subhani Dargah in Khadak Galli.
According to police, the stone pelting followed a row over sloganeering by the people in the procession.
The incident began when a group of youths in the procession raised the slogan, ‘I Love Muhammad.’
The residents of Khadak Galli, a locality that the procession does not usually pass through, questioned why the route was altered and objected to the slogan. This confrontation quickly escalated into stone pelting.
Police rushed in reinforcements and brought the situation under control.
Speaking to South First, DCP Narayan Baramani said, “Around 10.30 last night, the procession was going through Muslim gullies. Traditionally, it follows a set route, but it entered Khadak galli, a 100% Maratha community locality, where some boys were on the road after dinner. A couple of stones were thrown, but no one was hurt. There was panic. We rushed to the spot and dispersed both sides.”
When asked if the police knew who threw the stones first, he said, “Police are verifying where the stones were thrown from.” As of today, the police have registered a case against 10 known accused and 40-50 unidentified people.
Recently, in Davanagere, two groups had clashed over the taking down of a banner, which said, ‘I Love Mohammed’.
The incident occurred in Karl Marx Nagar on Wednesday, 24 September night.
According to police, the altercation began after youths from two communities clashed over the banner. The doors of a few houses were damaged, and a young girl sustained minor injuries and was admitted to the government hospital.
SP Davanagere Uma Prashnath, speaking with South First, had said, “It is an issue over the ‘I love Mohammed’ flex banner. Regarding that, other community members wanted it to be removed. There was a mutual exchange of words between the two. Immediately, the police were there at the spot and sorted out the issue. Later, they made a complaint, and we registered a case. Within five minutes, the situation was entirely under control, and no arrests have been made yet.”
The issue began on 4 September when during the Barawafat (Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi) procession in Rawatpur, Kanpur.
A group had put up an ‘I Love Muhammad’ banner along the procession route, which led to objections from local Hindu groups. They claimed that a “new tradition” was being introduced in a space traditionally used for Barawafat celebrations.
After that incident, reports claimed that on 9 September, Kanpur police registered cases against 24 people for allegedly introducing a new custom during the Barawafat procession and disturbing communal harmony.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi shared a post on 15 September where he wrote that “I Love Muhammad” was not a crime.
जब 'I Love Modi' कहने पर कोई एतराज़ नहीं, तो 'I Love Muhammad ﷺ' बोलने पर कार्रवाई क्यों? pic.twitter.com/KPOFTSqt1o
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 2, 2025
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
