Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh: Heavy tension gripped parts of Aligarh on Saturday after graffiti reading “I love Muhammad”was discovered on the walls of five temples in Bhagwanpur and Bulaqigarh villages. The incident prompted a massive police deployment, with senior officers and forensic experts rushing to the site to investigate the matter. CCTV footage from the surrounding areas was also examined in an effort to identify the perpetrators.
Police Response
The Aligarh police registered a case against eight individuals in connection with the incident: Mustaqeem, Gul Mohammad, Sulaiman, Sonu, Allahbaksh, Hameed, and Yousuf.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar stated, “We are taking this incident very seriously and investigating all aspects thoroughly. No guilty person will be spared.”
Officials also indicated that they are exploring a possible land dispute angle, suggesting that the graffiti could be linked to broader local tensions, though the primary focus remains on identifying and apprehending the culprits responsible for the defacement of the temples.
Claims of Police Negligence
The incident has also drawn criticism from local groups. Gyanendra Singh Chauhan, All-India Vice President of the Karni Sena, who lodged the police complaint, alleged that local authorities initially detained the villager who reported the graffiti rather than acting against the accused.
Chauhan further claimed that police personnel attempted to erase the slogans from temple walls to defuse the situation, an action he described as an inadequate response to the severity of the act.
Background and Previous Incidents
The Aligarh case follows a similar controversy in Kanpur, where police filed an FIR against 24 individuals for allegedly installing boards with the same slogan, “I Love Muhammad,” during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession on September 4. That incident triggered protests across Uttar Pradesh and other states, reflecting the sensitive nature of religious tensions in the region.
Such incidents have sparked debates over freedom of expression, religious sensitivities, and communal harmony, particularly in areas with a history of interfaith tensions. Authorities have stressed the importance of a calm and lawful response, while local residents have expressed concern over potential escalation if the matter is not addressed promptly.
Investigation Underway
The police in Aligarh are continuing their forensic investigation and examining all CCTV footage to track the movements of the accused. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that they aim to determine the motive, whether religious, personal, or linked to property disputes, and ensure strict action against those responsible.
Senior officials have assured the public that security around the temples will be tightened, and local communities have been urged to maintain peace while the investigation progresses.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to shed light on both the perpetrators and their motivations, as authorities work to prevent further tensions in the region.
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