The entire incident was recorded on a CCTV camera installed at a nearby mosque. The footage reportedly shows Dhanni using a stick to topple the banner. Police have seized the video and launched an investigation.
The additional superintendent of police and the circle officer arrived at the scene, and police from multiple police stations were summoned to the village.
Meanwhile, Dhanni’s family alleged that some people broke into their house, vandalised it, and stole belongings.
In the Mau district, a group of Muslims who took out a procession chanting ‘I Love Muhammad’ in the Nai Bazaar area after Friday prayers was chased away by the police using batons.
Four Muslims were arrested in Varanasi for taking out similar processions and putting up posters with ‘I Love Muhammad’ slogans.
A derogatory post targeting the campaign led to communal violence in Gujarat’s Bahial on Wednesday, with local Muslims alleging that the police sided with Hindu right-wing groups as they targeted and attacked properties of the minority community.
According to the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), as of September 23, at least 21 cases have been registered with over 1,324 Muslims accused and 38 arrested, in connection with banners displaying the slogan “I Love Muhammad,” accross the country.
The crackdown started after an initial case was registered in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur during an Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession. Local Hindu groups objected to the banner, alleging that it was “deliberately” placed in a mixed neighbourhood where Hindu festivals like Ram Navami are “traditionally” celebrated.
Tensions escalated as both communities accused each other of provocation—Hindus claimed their posters were damaged, while Muslims said they were targeted for expressing devotion.
According to APCR, as many as 16 FIRs were filed in connection with the banners and more than 1,000 Muslims have been identified as accused across districts in UP, including Unnao (8 cases, 85 accused, 5 arrested), Baghpat (150 accused, 2 arrested), Kaiserganj (355 accused), Shahjahanpur (200 accused) and Kaushambi (24 accused, 3 arrested).
Social media amplified the campaign, with hashtags like #ILoveMuhammad trending widely, prompting users to share images and change profile pictures. Political leaders, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, weighed in, noting that expressing religious devotion is protected under the Constitution.
Rights groups and lawyers have also pointed out that the police action targeting the religious expression of Muslims goes against the right to religious freedom of the community.