Insaaf Times Desk

In Shahjahanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, tensions escalated after offensive posts targeting Prophet Muhammad and the Quran were shared on Facebook. While the police have arrested the individual responsible for the posts, nearly 200 people who staged peaceful protests against the posts have also been booked under serious sections of law, sparking anger within the Muslim community.

The incident occurred on September 12, when Krishna Keshav Dixit, who claims to be a journalist, posted derogatory remarks about the Prophet and the Quran on Facebook. Following the post, large crowds gathered outside Sadar Bazar police station, demanding the application of the National Security Act (NSA) against Dixit. The police acted swiftly, arresting Dixit and registering cases under Sections 295A and 153A of the Indian Penal Code.

However, the situation took a turn the next day. Hindutva organizations staged counter-protests against the Muslim demonstrations, alleging that the protests were a breach of law and order. On this basis, the police registered FIRs against approximately 200 unidentified Muslims. They are now facing charges under multiple sections of the IPC, as well as Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932.

Police stated that the protesters attempted to pressure the station and caused damage to public property in some areas. “We have appealed to everyone not to post offensive content on social media and to maintain communal harmony,” said SP Rajesh Dwivedi.

Community members, however, claim that the protests were largely peaceful and that their demand was solely for strict action against the offender. “The real culprit is the one who insulted our Prophet, yet the police punished us instead,” said a local resident.

Human rights activists have described the incident as part of a growing trend of targeting Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. Nadeem Khan, National Secretary of the Association of Civil Rights, said, “This is the third incident in the past week where a crime was committed against Muslims, but the cases were filed against them. This is becoming a clear pattern.”

Earlier this month, similar mass cases were registered against Muslims in Kanpur and Firozabad during Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. These ongoing actions have intensified concerns and resentment within the community.