Bareilly Police have arrested two men after an investigation found that a child was allegedly made to raise a pro-Pakistan slogan during a Muharram procession in Khaikheda village, triggering concern over an attempt to disturb communal peace.
The accused have been identified as Yogendra Pal, also known as Jaman Singh, and Bhuvnesh Kumar, also known as Tejpal Singh. Police said the incident took place on June 21 within the jurisdiction of Hafizganj police station, where a video clip showing the child uttering “Pakistan Zindabad” was circulated on social media with claims that the slogan had been raised during the procession.
Nawabganj Circle Officer Nilesh Mishra said the matter came to police attention after a post on X alleged that the slogan had been raised during the Muharram procession. The inquiry, he said, found that the two accused had allegedly acted with malicious intent by instigating the child to say the slogan and allowing the clip to spread online. A case has been registered under relevant legal provisions, and further proceedings are under way.
Police officials said the inquiry focused on the origin of the video, the circumstances in which the child was made to speak, and the route through which the clip was amplified on social media. Investigators are also looking at whether others were involved in circulating the footage in a manner that could inflame tension in the area. The child’s role is being treated separately from that of the adults alleged to have prompted the slogan.
The episode prompted increased vigilance in Bareilly, where police teams were deployed on main roads, market stretches and crowded areas as part of law-and-order measures during Muharram. Patrols were reported from areas under Subhash Nagar, Ali Ganj and Mirganj police stations under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya. Officials said the objective was to prevent rumours from spreading and to ensure that religious observances passed without disturbance.
Khaikheda, the village where the incident occurred, falls under Hafizganj police station in the Nawabganj area of Bareilly district. The area has a mixed rural population, and processions during Muharram are generally monitored by local police and administrative officials because of the potential for disputes linked to routes, sound systems and social media posts.
Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, carries special significance for Shia Muslims, who observe it as a period of mourning for Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala. Processions, prayers and charitable activities are organised in several parts of the country, while local administrations issue instructions aimed at avoiding route disputes and provocative conduct.
The Bareilly case has drawn attention because the police version suggests the alleged slogan incident was not a spontaneous act by procession participants but a staged act involving a child. Such cases have become a growing policing challenge, with short video clips often spreading faster than official clarification. Local authorities are increasingly treating online circulation of sensitive content as a law-and-order risk, particularly around religious events.
Officers said action was taken after verification rather than on the basis of the viral clip alone. That approach is significant in cases involving communal allegations, where misleading captions, selective footage and edited videos can shape public reaction before facts are established. Police have urged residents not to forward unverified material and to report provocative posts through official channels.
