In a shocking incident from Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district, an elderly Muslim man named Rizwan was brutally assaulted by a group of inebriated men who forced him to chant religious slogans and threatened to cut off his beard. The attack, which occurred on Independence Day, has sparked outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
The disturbing footage shows Rizwan, visibly frightened and much older than his attackers, being slapped, abused, and humiliated by three men identified as Mukesh Bhatt, Manish Bisht, and Naveen Bhandari. They coerced him into chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ while hurling communal abuses.
One of the attackers was heard declaring, “It’s the rule of Hindus here, say Jai Shri Ram.” Another issued a chilling threat of beheading, saying, “Tum halal karke kaat te ho, hum tumhe jhatka karke kaatenge” (You slaughter animals with halal, we will cut you with jhatka). At one point, the men even asked for a blade to shave off his beard, further intimidating the elderly man into submission.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Lokeshwar Singh, both Rizwan and his attackers are locals working as contract laborers for the Indian Railways. Singh confirmed the arrests of Mukesh Bhatt, Manish Bisht, and Naveen Bhandari. A case of criminal intimidation has been registered against them.
The incident has raised concerns about rising instances of communal violence and mob intimidation in the region. While police action has been swift, community leaders have demanded stricter charges and stronger measures to ensure the safety of minorities. The video continues to circulate widely, drawing condemnation from civil society and rights activists across the country. — With Agencies Inputs
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com.