Aligarh Police Arrest Four for Writing 'I Love Muhammad' Slogans on Temples to Frame Muslims
Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh – In a twist to a case that initially stoked communal tensions, the Aligarh Police have arrested four Hindu men for allegedly writing "I love Muhammad" on the walls of several temples in the Lodha area. The act was a deliberate attempt to falsely implicate members of the Muslim community with whom they had ongoing land disputes.
The arrested have been identified as Zeeshanth Singh, Akash Saraswat, Dilip Sharma, and Abhishek Saraswat. A search is underway for a fifth suspect named Rahul, who is also believed to be involved.
The incident came to light last week when the slogans were discovered on temple walls in Bhagwanpur and Bulkgarhi villages, within the Lodha police station limits. The graffiti triggered outrage and led to the initial booking of eight Muslim men: Mustaqeem, Gul Mohammad, Sulaiman, Sonu, Allahbaksh, Hameed, and Yousuf.
However, police investigation revealed inconsistencies that pointed to a different set of culprits. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, spelling errors in the slogans raised suspicion. "This mistake was found in every slogan," Jadaun stated. One instance included writing ‘Mamud’ instead of Mohammad. Examination of CCTV footage, call detail records, discussions with villagers, and old case records further helped to identify the actual perpetrators.
The investigation revealed that the act was rooted in a long-standing land rivalry between the families of Gul Mohammad and Mukesh dating back to 2024. A previous altercation in September 2025 between Mustaqeem and Zeeshanth Singh over a similar issue resulted in cross-complaints. Police believe the accused men intended to manipulate the situation to ensure a favorable verdict against Mustaqeem in the existing case. "These four men intended to ensure a verdict against Mustaqeem in the case," Jadaun said. They allegedly wrote the slogans on temple walls to provoke immediate police action against their rivals. Rahul, who is currently absconding, is the son of a man involved in a property dispute with Gul Mohammad.
SSP Jadaun confirmed that the earlier case registered against the eight Muslim men would be withdrawn. The four arrested men have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) related to promoting enmity and disturbing public peace. Specifically, a case under BNS sections, including 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), was registered against the men.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of a controversy that began on September 4, when a group of Muslims carried an "I love Muhammad" banner during an Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kanpur. Hindu groups objected, claiming a "new tradition" was being introduced, leading to unrest and subsequent police action against individuals for allegedly disturbing communal harmony. Some protests turned violent, resulting in further police cases.
