By Web Desk
A Muslim passenger travelling to Latur in Maharashtra was allegedly assaulted by a group of around 20 men who reportedly targeted him for his religious identity, and the incident has once again drawn attention to the vulnerability of Muslims in public spaces across the country.
Mohammed Imran was travelling on the Manmad–Kakinada–Shirdi Express when the attack is said to have taken place while the train was halted at Hafeezpet station in Hyderabad, and a video showing him recounting the incident to police officers surfaced on social media on February 11.
In the video, Imran is heard telling the officers that he was suddenly lifted and attacked, as he described the assault in distressing terms.
According to Imran, the group had already been involved in a physical altercation inside the train, and he approached them to question why they were beating another man. He stated that he had merely intervened to ask why the individual was being hit, yet the confrontation turned against him as the group began assaulting him instead.
Imran said that he was targeted after the men noticed his beard and skull cap, and he further alleged that his visible Muslim identity provoked the attack. He also stated that his friend, who attempted to intervene and protect him, was assaulted during the chaos, thereby intensifying the violence inside the compartment.
The alleged attack on a moving train, albeit halted at a station, has raised serious concerns regarding passenger safety, and Imran has maintained that he can identify the assailants to assist investigators in pursuing appropriate legal action.
This story was originally published in madhyamamonline.com. Read the full story here.