By Waquar Hasan
New Delhi – A Muslim student was brutally assaulted by mobs affiliated with Hindutva groups after entering a Garba pandal during a Navratri celebration in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.
The victim, Aftab Hussain, hails from Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and is currently a student at the Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University in Sagar.
The incident came to light on Sunday, when two disturbing videos of the assault went viral on social media. In one video, Hussain is seen being dragged by his collar, while a mob rains down punches on him. Another video shows the mob physically attacking him at the event.
According to reports, Hussain had gone to attend the Garba celebration after being invited by a friend, who had also arranged an entry pass for him. However, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal were allegedly informed of his presence and accused him of hiding his identity — leading to the brutal attack.
The attack has triggered outrage, particularly from leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Srinagar MP and National Conference leader, condemned the assault and called the perpetrators “goons of the VHP and Bajrang Dal.”
“If Kashmiri students can’t even participate in your events, what does sabka saath mean? You’ve exposed yourselves as the most anti-national, communal force in this country. If anyone deserves to be booked under UAPA, it’s not the Kashmiri student, it’s the BJP, the RSS, and every bigot this Nazi regime has manufactured over the last 11 years,”
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the Jammu and Kashmir Student Association, also strongly condemned the attack and raised concerns over how the victim was treated by authorities.
“Shockingly, instead of being protected, he was taken into police custody despite a clean academic record and no unlawful background,” said Khuehami.
This story was originally published in thehindustangazette.com. Read the full story here.