By Maktoob
A 40-year-old Muslim biryani stall owner was assaulted by three youths in Lucknow’s Itaunja area after they accused him of carrying beef, while in Prayagraj’s Phulpur, VHP-Bajrang Dal members allegedly created a violent ruckus with local Muslim meat sellers after accusing them of selling beef.
Rizwan, a resident of Kasai Mohalla, runs a biryani stall near Badi Masjid in Mahona on Sundays and Thursdays.
According to the police, Rizwan was carrying meat for his shop when the three men, all in their 20s, allegedly assaulted him and threatened to kill him.
The situation later turned violent after local residents intervened.
A video purportedly showing the assault was widely circulated on social media.
The video shows Rizwan being pushed, grabbed and forced to the ground as members of a mob, including a man wearing a saffron headscarf, kick and beat him.
He suffered injuries to his head and face and was discharged from the hospital on Sunday evening after receiving treatment.
Based on Rizwan’s complaint, police registered an FIR against the three accused, identified as Rana Yadav, Shanu and Suraj.
A police officer said they had been booked for assaulting Rizwan, accusing him of carrying prohibited meat and threatening to kill him. No arrests had been made at the time.
The accused have been booked under provisions relating to criminal intimidation, intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace, voluntarily causing hurt and attempting to commit culpable homicide.
Police said the meat had been seized and samples collected, with a report sent to the veterinary officer for examination.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.