Two students of Hindu college, Aarush Singh and Deepak Kumar, allegedly attacked Farhad Ali at the college gate and set him ablaze using a flammable substance
NEW DELHI — The incident of a Muslim teenage student catching fire outside Hindu College in Moradabad city of Uttar Pradesh last week took a twist as the victim rejected the initial police claim that it was an accident. Instead, the 19-year-old Muslim BCom student insisted that it was a deliberate attempt to burn him alive and two students poured petrol on him and used a lighter.
Speaking to media from his hospital bed where he is being treated for severe burn injuries, Farhad Ali said at the weekend that his precarious health condition won’t allow him to speak at length, Hate Detector website said on Sunday. “They (Aarush Singh and Deepak Kumar) intentionally poured petrol on me from a white bottle and set me on fire. Police are saying that oil fell accidentally. If it was accidental, why did they use a lighter?” he asked.
Ali added that he sustained severe injuries to his leg and lodged an FIR, seeking strict action against the accused for the “planned attack”. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon when Ali had stepped out of the examination centre after completing a paper.
Two students of the same college — Aarush Singh (21), a BA third-semester student, and Deepak Kumar (20) — allegedly attacked Ali at the college gate and set him ablaze using a flammable substance. The victim said Singh attacked him while Kumar poured the petrol. Witnesses said flames spread across Ali’s clothes, triggering panic outside campus.
Students and passers-by rushed to his rescue, dousing the fire with water and cloth before shifting him to a private hospital. Severely burnt Ali was later referred to district hospital.
Moradabad (city) SP Kumar Ranvijay Singh said initial findings indicated the attackers may have used a petrol-filled bottle. “It appears a flammable substance was used. Forensic samples were collected and sent for chemical analysis. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined,” he added.
Officials said further action will be based on the outcome of forensic reports and witness testimonies, stressing that the probe is at an early stage.
