NEW DELHI — A disturbing video from Gujarat showing a Muslim man tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle and allegedly beaten by police personnel has triggered widespread outrage on social media.
In the viral clip, the man—heard crying “Ya Allah, bachalo” (Oh Allah, save me)—is seen being thrashed with sticks while restrained on the vehicle. The incident is reportedly linked to allegations of cow slaughter.
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The victim has been identified as Rais Shaikh. He was arrested by Vejalpur police on Tuesday along with four others. Among them were Sajid Qureshi and Raees Shaikh, a father of two from Fatehwadi in Sarkhej. Sajid was also allegedly assaulted and is said to be in a state of trauma.
According to police records, a case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Nine individuals have been booked in the case, though only three arrests have been made so far.
The video shows one man repeatedly striking Rais Shaikh while others pin him down on the bonnet. Despite the circulation of the footage and growing public criticism, authorities have not issued any official statement on the incident.
Rais Shaikh was later produced before a court and remanded to 24 hours of police custody.
Advocate Nouman Ganchi, representing Shaikh, told the court that his client had been brutally assaulted. However, he alleged that the victim and his family refrained from speaking against the police out of fear.
“He was brutally assaulted, but he and his family changed their statements in court due to fear of the police. I tried to persuade them, but they were unwilling to speak,” the advocate was quoted as saying in media reports.
He further alleged that the victim was pressured to retract his claims. “The police intimidated him and threatened to implicate him in additional cases to prolong his detention,” he said.
Condemning the incident, a senior journalist Awesh Tiwari said, ““This cop who’s beating him is, under the pretext of law enforcement, not only strengthening Hindutva but also sending a message to all Muslims in the country. Such actions are becoming increasingly routine.”
