Municipal employees, including Hindu sanitation workers, protest after Sadiq Qureshi was dismissed and jailed; Muslim leaders demand justice and accountability
RATLAM – Tension has gripped this Madhya Pradesh city after a Muslim driver working for the municipal corporation was dismissed from his job and sent to jail under allegations of causing death to a calf. The action, taken under pressure from the right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal, has led to protests from Muslim community leaders and municipal sanitation staff, including Hindu employees.
Two days ago, municipal driver Sadiq Qureshi and his assistant were accused of letting a calf fall from a garbage truck. Bajrang Dal activists, who claimed the animal died as a result, allegedly assaulted the driver in the presence of police officers. A video circulating online shows the group manhandling Qureshi while policemen stood by.
Following Bajrang Dal protest, the corporation suspended Qureshi and his helper, later handing them over to the police. Both were sent to jail without any formal investigation.
Muslim community leaders have strongly objected to the incident, calling it an example of bias and misuse of power. Local leader Imran Khokhar said: “Bajrang Dal men assaulted Sadiq Qureshi in front of the police and officials. Yet no one has been arrested. Instead, the driver was sent to jail without a chance to defend himself. He is innocent.”
Khokhar added that an FIR has been filed against the attackers, but no action has been taken against them.
The case has also triggered anger among municipal sanitation workers, many of whom are Hindus. The workers have stopped cleaning work and staged a sit-in outside the corporation office, demanding justice.
One sanitation worker told reporters: “How can the administration punish our colleague before any inquiry? The calf did not fall from Qureshi’s truck. It came from another vehicle. He has been wrongly accused.”
The protest has left large parts of the city without cleaning services, increasing pressure on the administration to resolve the crisis.
Ratlam Superintendent of Police, Amit Kumar, defended the decision, stating: “It is festival time and we did not want tensions to rise. The investigation is still on. Action will be taken according to law.”
However, the decision to arrest Qureshi without investigation has come under criticism, with civic workers and Muslim leaders accusing the police and corporation of acting under Bajrang Dal’s influence rather than following due legal process.
The situation remains tense, with both community members and municipal workers demanding the immediate release of the driver and accountability for those who assaulted him.
