A day after registering a case against a roadside vendor in Uttar Pradesh for selling shoes that had "Thakur" written on it, the Bulandshahr police on Wednesday dropped the IPC Section 153A from the FIR, which pertains to promoting enmity between groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.

The vendor, Nasir, was booked following a complaint by a local resident, Vishal Chauhan, that the shoes being sold by him had the word "Thakur" written on it.

Initially, an FIR was lodged under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), according to officials.

However, on Wednesday, Bulandshahr police said Section 153A had been removed after investigation revealed that allegations of promoting enmity on grounds of religion and caste against Nasir were "false".

The statement further said Nasir was brought to the police station only for interrogation and wasn't arrested. "He was let off Tuesday after preliminary investigation found that case was a 'scuffle' between Chauhan and Nasir," police said.

The incident and the police action drew sharp criticism from some social media users.

Responding to the reactions, the district police said on Twitter: "Had the police not taken the action as per the legal system, many people would have reacted differently or in the wrong way (ulti ya bhinn pratikriya dete). Hence, the police have followed the rules and please look at it in the same way."

Meanwhile, Narendra Trilokani, owner of Thakur Footwear Company said shoes sold by Nasir had nothing to do with his firm.

(With inputs from agencies)