DIG Sahni also addressed the earlier incident in Kanpur, where similar posters and a lightboard led to protests during the annual Barawafat procession. “The Kanpur incident was distinct, but it shows the risk of such actions spreading unrest across multiple states,” he noted. Protests following the Kanpur incident were reported not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Authorities reiterated that while personal religious expression is protected under law, any attempt to disrupt public order in its name will be met with strict legal action. Police officials are urging citizens and organisers to cooperate with law enforcement and avoid large, unpermitted gatherings, stressing that lawful religious expression must not spill over into public disorder.