Godhra: A youth identified as Zakir Jhabha has accused police of beating him after he shared a poster reading “I Love Muhammad ﷺ” on social media. He was reportedly summoned to the B-Division police station, where his supporters allege he was assaulted. Police deny the charge, saying he was called in only for questioning related to posts that could create tension during local festivities.
The allegation triggered a protest outside the police station. Witnesses say police misbehaved with the family and confiscated CCTV equipment. Hours later, unrest broke out. Officials said a mob vandalized the outpost, overturned furniture, burned papers, and pelted stones at an armoured vehicle. Police have arrested 25 people and listed 88 names in connection with rioting.
The Godhra incident is part of a wider controversy spreading across Mumbai, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. In Mumbai’s Saki Naka area, police removed banners with “I Love Muhammad ﷺ,” citing risks of unrest. Community leaders asked why similar action was not taken against widely displayed “Jai Shri Ram” banners. Advocate Rukhsana Sayed questioned the unequal enforcement of rules, pointing to bias in police action.
In Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, police filed FIRs against nearly two dozen people after similar posters appeared. Activist Nadeem Khan accused the police of Islamophobia and double standards, noting how Hindu religious structures and slogans face no restrictions.
The disputes have drawn criticism from rights groups, who see the actions as discriminatory and a violation of freedom of religious expression. Officials maintain that the measures are preventive and necessary to avoid communal clashes.
