By Team Clarion
SHAHJAHANPUR (Uttar Pradesh) — A horrifying incident has once again exposed the dangerous consequences of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh. A Muslim truck driver was mercilessly beaten and left to die on suspicion of carrying cattle remains by a mob of Kanwariyas. Shockingly, this brutal assault unfolded in front of police officers who remained passive, allowing the mob to set fire to the truck and stone the victim.
The incident took place in the Patna Devkali area on Badaun Road, in the Thana Kalan police jurisdiction of Shahjahanpur. Reports say that during the Kanwar Yatra procession, the Kanwariyas stopped a truck after noticing a foul smell, suspecting it to be carrying cattle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, they found animal skins and immediately jumped to conclusions without any investigation. Mistaking the skins for cattle remains, the mob launched a violent attack on the driver.
The victim was brutally beaten by the enraged mob. Even when police arrived, they failed to take any firm action to protect him or control the crowd. Instead, the police took the victim into custody while the angry mob set the truck on fire in their presence. The vehicle was reduced to ashes as stones continued to rain down from the mob, with no attempt by law enforcement to intervene.
Videos circulating on social media clearly show police officers standing by as violence unfolds, raising serious questions about the authorities’ role in protecting minorities. Human rights observers and community leaders have condemned the police’s failure to act, highlighting a pattern where Muslims are frequently targeted under the pretext of cow protection laws.
A local Muslim leader said, “This is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend where Muslims are harassed and punished without proof. The truck driver lost his life because of blind hatred and suspicion. The police must be held accountable for their silence.”
Another eyewitness shared, “We saw the police standing near but they did nothing while the driver was attacked. Such inaction encourages mobs to break the law and spread fear among minority communities.”
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.