The victim, identified as Mueeb, was attacked by a group of 8 to 10 men after they allegedly established his Muslim identity
NEW DELHI/HARIDWAR – In a shocking incident pointing to rising hate crimes across the country, a 22-year-old Muslim man was brutally assaulted by a mob near the gate of the prestigious Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar on the night of June 26. The victim, identified as Mueeb, son of Mujeeb and a resident of Jwalapur, was attacked by a group of 8 to 10 men after they reportedly established his Muslim identity.
According to eyewitnesses and family members, the assailants abused and beat up Mueeb with sticks after confirming his identity. The assault took place in an area frequented by students and visitors.
Mueeb, who works as an electrician in Haridwar, was found unconscious and rushed to a government hospital. However, the hospital reportedly turned him away after providing only basic first aid, citing the absence of a surgeon. His father, Mujeeb, then took him to a private nursing home for further treatment. The family, unable to afford continued care, brought him home the following day. Later that evening, Mueeb’s health deteriorated having high fever. He was then taken to another doctor, who advised immediate hospitalisation.
The family, accompanied by local activists, went to the Kankhal police station late that night to lodge a formal complaint. A case was registered against unknown assailants, but no arrests have been made yet. While police briefly detained a suspect named Pawan on June 28 for questioning, he was released shortly thereafter.
Local activists and civil society groups have condemned the attack and accused authorities of inaction. Members of Janadhikar Party and Khudai Khidmatgar have extended support to the victim’s family and are pressing for strict action under relevant provisions of law, including Supreme Court guidelines against hate crimes.
“This is not just an attack on one individual but an assault on the rule of law and India’s constitutional values,” said Hema Bhandari of Janadhikar Party, who visited Mueeb and his family. “The increasing frequency of such targeted attacks and the impunity with which they are carried out is deeply disturbing,” she added.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing climate of intolerance and communal violence in the country, where hate speech, incitement, and mob attacks are becoming disturbingly routine, often with little or no accountability.
Civil society organisations are now urging the Uttarakhand state government and law enforcement agencies to take swift and impartial action, ensure justice for the victim, and send a strong message that communal violence will not be tolerated.
