Six arrested, police investigation continues
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – A burqa-clad woman and her male Hindu companion were harassed by a group of marauding men in the Khalapar area of Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar District on Saturday. Even though the incident occurred on Saturday, it caught the eye of the netizens and authorities when a video of the incident went viral on social media.
In the video, a man is seen stripping the hijab off the woman’s face as others present physically assaulted her and her companion. The woman was identified as Farheen, 20. She was with Sachin; both associated with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.
The incident occurred in the Khalapar area as the two were returning to the bank after collecting a loan installment.
Disrobing a young Muslim woman and swarming around her like a pack of hyenas. Disgusting, shameful visuals from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar.
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) April 14, 2025
pic.twitter.com/6ucH0rmWhO
The woman and her Hindu companion were riding a motorcycle when they were intercepted by the mob. The assailants confronted them, demanding the woman to remove her face veil. Upon her refusal, they forcibly unveiled her and recorded the incident on their mobile sets. The video prompted public outrage and drew the attention of law enforcement agencies.
Farheen was riding the bike with Sachin on the instructions of her mother, Farhana, media reports said.
As soon as information was received by a police patrol, some policemen reached the spot and rescued the duo and took them to a police station. Based on a complaint from the Farheen, the police registered a case, the report said.
The police have initiated an investigation to identify and apprehend the culprits involved in this act of public harassment and violation of personal dignity. The police have, however, arrested six persons in connection with the incident.
The Muzaffarnagar incident underscores the urgent need for addressing issues related to personal freedom, communal harmony, and the enforcement of law and order. Authorities must ensure that such acts of public harassment are dealt with promptly and that the perpetrators are brought to justice to prevent recurrence and maintain societal peace.
