The police claim that the victim suffered a heart attack, but his daughter says Holi revellers misbehaved with him and looted cash worth Rs 5,000 from his wallet
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A Muslim quinquagenarian had to pay with his life for resisting colours being applied on him during the Hindu festival of Holi in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao District on Saturday.
The incident happened when a group of Holi revellers stopped 55-year-old Mohammed Sharif, riding an autorickshaw, and pulled him out in the Kotwali Sadar police station area near Sheetla Mata Mandir, to apply colours on him.
The victim resisted the group’s attempts to smear colours on him and this resulted in heated arguments. Soon the revellers became violent and started attacking the aged man who attempted to break free of them and flee the scene.
The police claim that the victim suffered a heart attack as he was trying to flee the scene.
However, Sharif’s daughter, Bushra claimed that the revellers pulled her father out of the autorickshaw, misbehaved with him and looted cash worth Rs 5,000 from his wallet.
“Some people misbehaved with him and sprayed colours on him. When he stopped them, they pushed around and beat him up. They also misbehaved with him. His wallet was snatched and the cash inside was looted,” she told media persons.
Sharif worked in Saudi Arabia and returned to Unnao two months ago.
Mohammad Shamim, Sharif’s nephew, said his uncle was on his way to a dairy around noon when his autorickshaw was intercepted by the revellers.
“He was heckled, and the revellers were determined to apply colours. When I reached the site, my uncle was requesting them not to do so. The issue was settled then, but later, many of them caught hold of him again. I was told by witnesses that he was repeatedly slapped before he collapsed,” Shamim said.
Sharif’s death has caused tension in his native Qasim Nagar and the surrounding areas. Sharif’s family refused to allow an autopsy until the culprits were arrested.
Mourners blocked the road by placing Sharif’s body at Kanpur-Lucknow Main Road IBP crossing. They also damaged some vehicles passing by before order was restored by the police. Administration officials persuaded Sharif’s family to carry out his last rites without delay, but the family remained adamant demanding action against the culprits.
Additional SP, Unnao North, Akhilesh Singh, stated, “The police are investigating this case. There is no law and order problem as such. We will register an FIR once the complaint is filed.”
The Unnao Kotwali Police have taken three persons into custody.
Shahr Qazi Saqib Adeeb Misbahi, who travelled to Unnao from Kanpur, met the authorities and helped calm the angry crowd.
“Such an incident has never occurred before in Unnao’s history. Holi had always been celebrated here peacefully,” he said.
“The administration has assured that strict action will be taken in this case, and they are investigating it thoroughly,” he added.
