By Waquar Hasan
New Delhi – An 18-year-old Muslim youth who runs a chicken shop was brutally assaulted and abused with religious slurs by a group affiliated with a Hindutva outfit in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.
While the Aligarh police termed the incident a personal dispute between two individuals over a chicken purchase, the victim and his family members categorically denied any such dispute.
In a video statement, the injured youth, Aizan alias Fardeen, claimed he was violently attacked by a group of individuals who hurled communal slurs at him, including the derogatory term ‘Katwa’ (a reference to circumcision, used pejoratively against Muslims).
According to a complaint filed at Barla Police Station, Aizan’s father Nasruddin stated that his elder son Faizan was also assaulted during the incident and Rs 11,650 was looted from their shop. He recounted that when Aizan had gone to the shop to deliver a tiffin, four individuals—identified as Devender, Mohit, Surjit, Sunil, and Sanju—approached and began abusing and pushing him.
“When Aizan resisted, they all attacked him with sticks and rods, punching and kicking him until he collapsed. Then my elder son Faizan arrived and tried to intervene by pleading with folded hands,” the complaint read.
Faizan was also reportedly assaulted, and the group allegedly looted Rs 11,650 in cash, a mobile phone, and a bicycle from the shop.
Speaking to reporters, Nasruddin said that his son sustained serious injuries after being beaten with rods and sticks by 10–12 individuals without any provocation. According to him, Aizan was later taken to a nearby field and further assaulted before locals informed the family, who then rescued him.
This story was originally published in thehindustangazette.com. Read the full story here.