Outrage over shopkeeper’s shocking indifference and attempt to play communal card in Rafiq’s death in Madhya Pradesh’s Susner
AGAR MALWA — A shocking video from Susner town in Agar Malwa district of Madhya Pradesh has caused nationwide outrage. In the disturbing footage, a man named Rafiq can be seen writhing in pain and gasping for help inside a grocery store, while the shop owner, identified as Salgram Rathore, sits casually counting money and looking at his mobile phone, showing no concern for the dying man.
The horrifying video, which has gone viral on social media, has sparked anger and grief, especially among members of the Muslim community, who have accused the businessman of neglect and inhuman behaviour.
Witnesses say that Rafiq, a local resident, suddenly collapsed inside the shop and pleaded for help. However, instead of calling for medical assistance or offering water, the shop owner allegedly continued with his business, completely ignoring Rafiq’s suffering. Moments later, Rafiq died.
After the video led to massive criticism online and offline, the accused businessman Salgram Rathore allegedly tried to shift the focus by giving the incident a communal angle, claiming he was being targeted because he belonged to a “particular class.”
Local residents and community leaders, however, have strongly rejected this claim. On Monday (13 October), members of the Muslim community, accompanied by people from other communities, submitted a memorandum to the district administration and police officials, demanding justice for Rafiq’s family and action against the accused businessman and his son.
Qazi Hafiz Nawab Khan, the local religious leader of Susner, led the delegation that handed over the memorandum to the Tehsildar and the police station in-charge. Speaking to reporters, he said, “We are not raising the issue of Hinduism or Islam. This is about humanity. A man died in front of the shopkeeper’s eyes, and he did nothing. Now, to hide his guilt, he is trying to make it a Hindu-Muslim issue.”
He further added, “We have always upheld the Ganga-Jamuni culture of brotherhood. Our Hindu brothers have always stood with us in times of need. No one in Susner wants any communal tension — we only want justice for Rafiq and his family.”
The memorandum stated that Salgram Rathore was deliberately using divisive language and phrases like “a particular class” to create confusion and tension in the peaceful town of Susner. The community urged the district administration to file a case and take strict action against those responsible.
According to reports, the local police have received the memorandum and assured the delegation that the matter would be investigated fairly. The residents of Susner have expressed deep anger at the accused businessman’s attempt to play the communal card.
“This is a matter of humanity, not religion,” said Abdul Rashid, a local social worker. “Rafiq was dying in front of him. Any human being with a heart would have helped. Turning this into a Hindu-Muslim issue is shameful.”
Another resident, Vijay Sharma, who also witnessed the uproar, said, “People of all communities in Susner have always lived together peacefully. The accused is trying to divide us to save himself, but no one will fall for this.”
The disturbing video has now gone viral across social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation. Activists and journalists have described the incident as a reflection of moral decline and rising insensitivity in society.
Human rights advocate Shabana Qureshi remarked, “What we saw in that video was not just one man’s negligence — it was a mirror showing what apathy has become. The victim was Muslim, but the real issue here is humanity being lost.”
The incident has once again raised questions about communal politics and the tendency of certain individuals to exploit religion to evade accountability. Many observers note that attempts to communalise such tragedies are deeply harmful to India’s social harmony.
The Muslim community’s memorandum emphasised peace and restraint. It called on the authorities to conduct a fair investigation and avoid communalising the case. The memorandum read: “The people of Susner have always believed in peace and coexistence. We request the administration to uphold justice and ensure that no one disturbs the communal harmony of the area.”
Qazi Hafiz Nawab Khan appealed to the public to maintain calm and not be misled by divisive elements. “We have faith in the Constitution and the law. We demand that the government arrest the accused and deliver justice to the deceased’s family,” he said.
With the video continuing to circulate online and public anger growing, the district administration now faces increasing pressure to take firm action. Civil society groups and media outlets have also urged the police to register a case of criminal negligence against Salgram Rathore and his son, ensuring that the matter is not buried under communal rhetoric.
Local sources said that police officials have begun preliminary inquiries, and further action will depend on the findings.
Meanwhile, Rafiq’s family remains devastated. A relative said, “He went out to buy groceries and never returned. What hurts more is that people watched him suffer and did nothing. We only want justice.”
The Susner tragedy is a reminder of how quickly human compassion can vanish when greed and indifference take over. What should have been a simple act of helping a dying man turned into an episode of cold-hearted negligence, followed by a communal diversion to escape responsibility.
As residents of Susner unite across communities to seek justice for Rafiq, the message from the town is clear — this is not about Hindu or Muslim; it is about humanity.Show original message
