The victim has been identified as Mohammed Rashid, a resident of Jamalnagar. The incident happened when he was taking his sick father to a hospital for treatment
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A bearded Muslim man was brutally assaulted by a mob of 10-20 people shouting ‘kill this bearded man’ after his scooter slightly collided with another two-wheeler in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district on Saturday night.
The victim has been identified as Mohammed Rashid, a resident of Jamalnagar. The incident happened when he was taking his sick father to a hospital for treatment.
Speaking to Clarion India, the Station House Officer of the Delhi Gate Police Station where the incident took place, said that the police have lodged an FIR against unidentified persons. “It’s the victim who can identify the culprits. The accused have been booked under appropriate sections,” he said.
According to the SHO, the collision between two vehicles caused an argument between them resulting in the assault on Rashid. The official refused to give further details.
Speaking to reporters, the victim Rashid said that he was assaulted by around 10-20 saying ‘Kill the bearded man’.
“My father was referred from the Muskan Medical Hospital to the Medical College. I was going there after sending him in the ambulance. My two-wheeler slightly collided with a boy’s two-wheeler. When I explained things to the boy, he left. I was caught by another man. He called other people,” he said.
“They brutally assaulted me. They said this man has a beard and kill this rascal. Some of them were saying so. I couldn’t identify all of them. They kicked and punched me. I had a mobile phone and Rs 20,000 for the treatment of my father. I don’t know exactly whether they were looted or fell there,” he added.
Nobody came to the rescue of the victim who somehow escaped and went to the Delhi Gate police station taking his vehicle on his own.
Local Muslim leaders have taken up the issue and demanded strict action against the culprits.
“I want to request the SSP to take strict action against those who carried out this attack. The peace of the town should not be disturbed. Anti-social elements are spoiling the atmosphere of the country. He was attacked after noticing his beard. Attacking people due to a beard is flatly wrong. It will not be accepted at all,” said Nadeem Ansari, a local Muslim leader.
Another Muslim leader blamed the hate politics being played by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the incident.
“Their goons are creating rioting at different places but no strict action is taken against them. Earlier, we have seen what happened with Aurangzeb (who was lynched). The administration was supporting the accused in the Aurangzeb incident. Even today, some people from the BJP are involved in this incident. The administration should take strict action in this incident. We will meet with the SSP in this regard,” he said.
In June, 35-year-old Muslim man Mohammed Farid alias Aurangzeb was lynched by a mob in Aligarh over the allegation of theft. Local BJP MLA had led a protest in support of the accused who were arrested for lynching him. Days after his death, the police had booked Aurangzeb in a case.