An imam from a mosque in Lakhanpur village, Aligarh district, was reportedly assaulted on Friday. Maulana Karim Mustaqim claims that during the attack, his beard and skullcap were forcibly removed, and he was coerced into chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” He alleges that the assault was fueled by his religious identity and his refusal to comply with the demands.
In an account provided by the victim, he stated that he was subjected to derogatory slurs such as “Kathmulla” and “Pakistani,” and was told to “go to Pakistan.” Mustaqim reported that he endured beatings with sticks and rods, as well as kicks and slaps, claiming this harassment had persisted for weeks leading up to the incident.
A video statement showed him detailing the assault, indicating he was held captive and brutally beaten, with attackers forcing him to chant “Ram, Ram.” Witnesses allege that the assailants stated, “He is a Muslim, a Katua, beat him, drive him away from here.” Mustaqim also reported injuries from strikes to his head, arms, and face.
The Aligarh police have described the incident as a “clash” and denied any anti-Muslim motivations, asserting that it appears to be a simple assault. City Superintendent of Police Mrigank Shekhar Pathak proclaimed that no evidence supports the notion of religiously-motivated violence, labeling the claims as “completely false.”
Public reactions on social media have been critical of the police’s statements, with users questioning the integrity of law enforcement. One user expressed disbelief at the police explanation compared to the victim’s video testimony, suggesting that the incident could easily be dismissed as a simple accident if reported differently.
Maulana Mufti Akbar Qasmi, president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s Aligarh district, alleged the assault was an attempt at mob lynching, describing it as a conspiracy characterized by a history of similar incidents. He criticized the police for their lack of action despite the evident religious motivations.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress party’s official X (formerly Twitter) account condemned the incident, framing it as an attack by “power-backed goons” and highlighting an increase in communal violence in the state. Additionally, BSP’s Salman Shahid expressed that if the police do not take appropriate action against the attackers, a meeting with the senior superintendent of police will be convened to demand justice.
The local police’s official communication acknowledged the incident as a case that required further investigation. The imam has since been hospitalized, and police continue to look into the circumstances surrounding the case.
Tags: Aligarh, imam, assaulted, Jai Shri Ram, police
Hashtags: #Aligarh #imam #brutally #assaulted #forced #chant #Jai #Shri #Ram #police #deny #antiMuslim #motive
