At centre of first ‘I Love Mohammad’ FIR, residents of Kanpur neighbourhood say: ‘Displayed banner last year too, what is our crime?’

“We never raised such an objection for others,” he said.

According to the police, the board with ‘I Love Mohammad’ was installed in front of Jafar Wali Gali in Mohalla Saiyad Nagar, an area with a mixed population in Kanpur. Police said that on September 4, some locals opposed the installation, calling it an attempt to introduce a “new practice.” Attempts to remove the board led to a heated exchange and tensions in the area, and senior police officers had to intervene to calm tempers. Eventually, the board was removed and relocated.

On September 5, when the Barawafat procession was underway, unidentified youths allegedly tore down religious posters installed by Hindu outfits, police said. On September 10, police registered an FIR at the Rawatpur police station and named nine persons, including the procession organisers, and 15 unidentified individuals.

No arrest has been made so far. The FIR, which also mentions another ‘I Love Mohammad’ banner put up at Rawatpur village, has been filed under sections of promoting enmity between different groups and acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

Those named in the FIR, all residents of Jafar Wali Gali, say they are still confused by the FIR, which mentions three separate incidents over two days. “We are still unclear why the police have booked us — whether it is for putting up the light board or the alleged tearing of religious posters,” said one person who has been named.

“Since the police have not clarified, all those named in the FIR and their families are worried. Police are now telling our elders that putting up the light board was not an issue, but they still have not explained why the organisers of the Barawafat procession were booked,” said 25-year-old Mohammad Siraj, who runs a cold drink shop in Saiyad Nagar and is among those booked.

The organisers said they believe objections were raised only because the light board was displayed “more prominently” this year.

“The board was initially placed at the corner of the road opposite the Jafar Wali Gali. After people objected to it, we moved it to the entrance of the gali and the issue was resolved. The lighting of the gali was done after obtaining permission from the authorities,” said 40-year-old property broker Babu Ali, one of the organisers named in the FIR.

He expressed surprise over the police registering the FIR five days after the incident.

Among the nine persons named in the FIR, two are Imams. When contacted, Imam Shabnoor Alam said, “The police called me to the spot to help convince people who were insisting on keeping the light board in its original place. After I spoke with them, they agreed to move the board to another location. That was my only role, and I cannot understand why the police have included my name in the FIR.”

“Another Imam, Sharafat Hussain, was merely passing through the area where the argument was taking place and stopped briefly. Yet, the police have named him in the case as well,” he claimed.

Other individuals named in the FIR included Fazlu Rehman (35), who runs a photo studio; Ikram Ahmed, a bike mechanic; Bunty, who does odd jobs; and Iqbal, a 70-year-old resident who stays at home.

When contacted, Station House Officer, Rawatpur police station, Krishna Kumar Mishra said the “investigation is underway”.

Last weekend, protests against the Kanpur FIR were witnessed in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Kaushambi, Pilibhit, Bareilly, Bhadohi, Lucknow, Unnao, and Kanpur. Police said most of the protests were organised without taking permission. Till Monday, at least five people had been arrested in Unnao and three in Kaushambi. A similar protest at Udham Singh Nagar’s Kashipur in neighbouring Uttarakhand on Sunday night turned violent, following which police made a spate of arrests and the district administration demolished several structures, alleging encroachment.