In Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district, police have arrested four men accused of painting “I love Mohammad” on the walls of several temples in an alleged attempt to stir communal unrest. The investigation later revealed that the graffiti was part of a plot linked to a local land dispute rather than a religious provocation.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, the arrested individuals Zeeshanth Singh, Akash Saraswat, Dilip Sharma, and Abhishek Saraswat are members of the Hindu community. “Our inquiry established that this was not a communal act but a deliberate effort to malign another community due to personal enmity over property,” Jadaun said.
The slogans, which appeared earlier this week, caused tension and outrage in several neighbourhoods before police identified the culprits through CCTV footage and witness statements. Officials confirmed that a prior case filed against members of another community, based on the initial allegations, will now be withdrawn following the new findings.
The incident also triggered a political response. Samajwadi Party leader Zia Ur Rehman Barq, commenting soon after the graffiti came to light on October 25, had claimed it was a “planned conspiracy” to incite communal divisions.
The four accused have been charged under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to promoting enmity and disturbing public order. They are currently in judicial custody as police continue their investigation.
