Unrest broke out in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar on Monday morning after a rangoli on a road featuring the words “I love Mohammad” sparked protests. The incident led to a blockade of the Pune–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar highway and clashes with the police. At least 30 people have been detained, further investigation underway.
According to officials, the controversy began in Kotla village, where a Hindu group had planned a Durga Mata race along the same stretch of road. On the route, someone had created a rangoli with the slogan “I love Mohammad”, which quickly drew protests from members of the Muslim community.
Reports suggest, that around 7 am, demonstrators had gathered, raising slogans and blocking the busy highway. The agitation brought traffic to a halt, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides.
Police said they registered an FIR and arrested the person accused of making the rangoli. However, the protesters refused to disperse and insisted on continuing their demonstration.
According to reports, when police tried to convince them to end the blockade, and stones were pelted. In response, the police used force to control the situation. The crowd was dispersed, and the area has now been secured.
Superintendent of Police Sonath Gharge confirmed that about 30 people involved in the stone-pelting were taken into custody. He urged citizens not to fall prey to rumours and assured that additional forces had been deployed to maintain order.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, reacting to the incident, said there was a need to probe whether the disturbance was deliberate. “I was travelling, so I do not know the details. But we must investigate if there is a conspiracy behind this. Is someone trying to disrupt communal harmony? During the Lok Sabha elections, similar attempts at polarisation were made. We will have to examine this closely,” he remarked.
The “I love Mohammad” slogan has already stirred controversy in other parts of India. Earlier this month, an FIR was filed in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur against 24 people for allegedly putting up boards with the phrase during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession. Hindu groups had objected, calling it a “deliberate provocation.”
