After stirring sentiments in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, the ‘I Love Muhammad’ poster controversy reaches Bihar. In Hajipur, particularly in the Jadhua area, tensions soared when posters bearing ‘Muhammad’ and similar slogans appeared on residential walls. This sparked immediate outrage among locals, rapidly escalating the atmosphere into a tense standoff.
According to reports, late on Saturday, a Muslim youth plastered several houses with these contentious posters in the Jadhua neighborhood. Spotting them in the morning, residents erupted in anger. The incensed crowd captured and assaulted the youth responsible for the postings, causing distress and inflaming the situation.
Residents claimed the posters were an attempt to disrupt the community's harmony. Responding swiftly to the turmoil, the local police arrived at the scene, rescuing the youth from the mob and placing him in custody. To prevent further escalation, authorities managed the crowd and secured the area by deploying additional security personnel.
Source: aajtak
In light of the situation's seriousness, Sadar SDPO Subodh Kumar personally attended with a police team to assess and contain the situation, issuing orders for a police camp in the area. Officials stated a thorough investigation is underway, promising strict action against those culpable for the unrest.
Call to Ignore Rumors
Currently, the Jadhua area is heavily patrolled by police to ensure normalcy. The administration appeals to residents to ignore rumors and maintain peace. Nonetheless, the entire incident has raised the area's temperature, keeping fear and anxiety prevalent among the people despite police vigilance.
Following the incident, local authorities are exercising heightened caution, increasing patrols in the vicinity and surrounding regions to preempt any untoward developments. The episode has caused a ripple effect, unsettling not only Hajipur but also the broader district.
