A fiery confrontation unfolded at Khandwa’s Moghat police station on Thursday night, triggered by an offensive Instagram post about Prophet Muhammad. What started as online outrage quickly turned into street chaos, with police booking 47 people after using minimal force to control a protesting crowd.
The provocative post originated from Prabhakar Shinde’s Instagram handle, prompting swift backlash from the Muslim community. Youths mobilized, converging on the station after Mujahid Qureshi lodged a formal complaint. Officers acted decisively, slapping BNS Section 299 charges on Shinde and taking him into custody.
Protesters, however, pushed further, insisting on demolishing the accused’s residence with a bulldozer – a tactic seen in similar disputes. The station turned into a battleground of chants and defiance as demonstrators refused to budge. Additional police units from nearby stations arrived, backed by top brass like ASP and ADM, who managed to pacify the situation.
Retaliatory FIRs named 22 individuals including Sohail (Pardeshipura), Mohsin Lala (Ghaspura), Sarfroj Qureshi (Imli Pura), and Jahid (ex-AIMIM leader), plus 25 others. Charges cover rioting with arms, injuring public servants, and unlawful assembly under multiple BNS provisions.
As Khandwa simmers, this episode spotlights the perils of inflammatory social media in polarizing times. Community leaders urge restraint, while police vow thorough probes to prevent recurrence.