By Shakeeb KPA and Sahid Faris
The body of Ashraf, a 36-year-old mentally unwell Malayali Muslim man brutally lynched by a Hindutva mob in Mangaluru, Karnataka, was laid to rest Wednesday at the Cholakkundu mosque graveyard in his hometown of Kottakkal, Malappuram.
The burial was marked by grief and anger, with mourners—family, friends, and local residents—demanding justice for what many have described as a hate-fueled killing.
Ashraf, originally from Kottakkal but residing with his family in Pulpally, Wayanad, was attacked on Sunday, April 27, near the Batra Kallurthi temple in Kudupu, Mangaluru, while watching a local cricket match.
Ashraf had been working as a scrap collector in several places. His family has been staying in Pulpally, Wayanad, on rent for the last three years after their house in Parappur was taken over by a bank over a loan.
According to witnesses, the violence began after Ashraf drank a cup of water that had been kept by a nearby group playing. One of the accused, identified as Sachin T., confronted him. Soon after, a group allegedly led by Ravindra Nayak—husband of BJP corporator Sangeetha Nayak—assaulted Ashraf using a cricket bat and other weapons.
Despite efforts by bystanders to intervene, the mob, allegedly affiliated with a Hindutva club called “Samrat Guys,” continued the assault until Ashraf collapsed.
The attackers then fled the scene, believing him dead. He was later found dead near the temple and rushed to a hospital where he was officially declared as dead.
The post-mortem report from Wenlock District Hospital revealed Ashraf died from internal bleeding and shock due to deep injuries to his head, limbs, back, buttocks, and genitals, caused by wooden logs and blunt force trauma.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.