MEERUT, Sept. 13 -- Tensions flared in Shahjahanpur on Friday night after a controversial social media post targeting a religious text sparked widespread outrage. Thousands of protesters surrounded the Sadar Bazar police station, demanding action against the accused, forcing police to resort to lathicharge amid stone-pelting and growing unrest.

The controversy began when the accused, a 45-year-old resident of Bahadurganj, allegedly posted derogatory remarks on the holy book and a revered figure of another community. The post was flagged by the police's social media monitoring team, following which the accused was arrested and brought to the police station for questioning, officials said.

However, by 10 pm, news of the post had spread an...