In a shocking incident, Muslim youth Irshad, a resident of Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh was beaten black and blue by his own community members after he had joined his Hindu friends for Kanwar Yatra.
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Reportedly, Irshad had attended the Kanwar Yatra along with his Hindu friends. He had travelled to Haridwar and returned to a Lord Shiva temple in his village to offer the holy water he had brought from river Ganga. This was not the first time that Irshad had participated in such Kanwar yatras. The locals have confirmed that he has been taking part in Kanwar Yatra from a long time now.
As he returned back from Kanwar yatra to his village Badka of Baraut tehsil in Baghpat, he was allegedly beaten and his family was attacked by a group of people. On Wednesday night, a group of men reached Irshad’s house in Barka village and began assaulting him. When his father Ikramuddin tried to intervene, he was attacked as well. Both Irshad and his father have sustained severe injuries in the attack.
“I had gone to Haridwar to get water, when I came back, people of my community objected, saying it is the against religion,” said victim Irshad.
According to reports, workers of Hindu Jagran Manch reached Baraut Police Station in the Baghpat district and filed a complaint in the matter demanding strict action against the perpetrators.
The Police has filed an FIR against a Muslim man named Zakir Ahmad under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint).
Meanwhile, Ramanand Kushwaham DSP of Baghpat said, “There was no issue of Kanwar or bringing water, it was a personal dispute between neighbours. A complaint about brawl has been received, the case is being registered.”
Last year, a similar incident had occurred in Baghpat after a Muslim man named Babu Khan was brutally assaulted at a local mosque by Muslim community after he had participated in the ongoing Kanwar Yatra and offered water to Lord Shiva.