- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:06 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a major escalation in the ongoing 'I Love Muhammad' row, the police on Monday detained 30 people following tensions in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar over the slogan being written in a rangoli on a road.
According to the police, tensions flared up on Monday morning following the 'I Love Muhammad' was found written in a rangoli, which prompted the Muslim community to file a complaint with the police.
"The protest began this morning at Kotla in Kotwali area after someone had painted 'I Love Muhammad' on the road, which was objected to by members of the Muslim community. A complaint was lodged at Kotwali police station against this graffiti," an official said.
The police added that they registered an FIR into the incident and arrested an accused for allegedly making the objectionable rangoli.
However, the protestors were not convinced and started stone pelting. "Despite one person being arrested in connection with the graffiti, some people protested. Even as police urged them to maintain law and order, some persons from the mob started pelting stones. Police resorted to a lathi-charge to restore normalcy," the official said.
Ahilyanagar Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge said that the police detained at least 30 persons in connection with the protests, road blockade and stone pelting.
"We used force to maintain law and order. Police is taking action against the accused persons. The situation is under control. Citizens must not believe in or spread rumours," Gharge said.
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Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the authorities will investigate if there is a conspiracy to disturb social peace in the state and polarise society by putting up different kinds of boards. "Everyone is free to practice their own religion but not to indulge in polarisation," the CM asserted.
(With PTI Inputs)