Police acknowledge attack, intimidation and extortion; the main accused, identified as Rishabh Thakur, has been arrested
NEW DELHI — A Hindutva group thrashed a Muslim youth mercilessly, humiliated him and forced him to chant Hindu hymns in the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, police said. The main accused in the attack that occurred on March 28 in the Cantonment police station area has been apprehended and more arrests are expected soon, the police claimed.
Police said the accused, identified as Rishabh Thakur, not only assaulted the victim but also extorted money from him. The victim, Shoaib, who works in Dubai, alleged that ₹7,000 in cash was taken from him and an additional ₹2,000 was transferred online under duress. Police said ₹3,300 in cash and a mobile phone were recovered from the accused.
The victim was reportedly stopped in a public place by a group of men, beaten, verbally abused, and forced to chant Hindutva slogans, media reports reaching here said on Thursday.
Police said the attackers recorded the assault and circulated the video on social media, where it later went viral. In the video, members of the group can be heard accusing the victim of being involved in so-called “Love Jihad,” a term used by Hindutva groups to allege that Muslim men target Hindu women for conversion through marriage.
Thakur was arrested on March 29 near Kathpula Bridge. Authorities said he was already barred from entering the district under a previous externment order in another extortion-related case, leading to additional charges under the Uttar Pradesh Goonda Act.
A separate complaint was initially filed by the father of a local woman, alleging abusive behaviour by the accused, but he later distanced himself from the case, saying the matter had been resolved and that his family did not know the accused.
Police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to assault, criminal intimidation, and extortion. Officials said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to identify and arrest other individuals involved in the assault.
