Gujarat forest staff allegedly assaults man after hearing his name

Bhuj: Police in Gujarat’s Kutch district have registered a case against five Forest Department employees accused of assaulting a Muslim youth from Loria village near Bhuj, three days after the alleged incident on Friday, August 28.

The FIR was registered following sustained efforts by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), which said it had been approaching the authorities since the day of the incident and demanding both a criminal case and a detailed inquiry.

The organisation questioned why a person alleging serious physical assault had to repeatedly approach authorities before an FIR was filed, Siasat Daily reported.

According to APCR, the victim, Farid Haji Mer, was stopped by Forest Department personnel who asked him to identify himself. The organisation alleged that the employees assaulted him after learning that he was Muslim.

Mer reportedly suffered serious injuries and was hospitalised at GK General Hospital in Bhuj, where he remains under treatment. He has also undergone a surgical procedure, APCR said.

The civil rights organisation stressed that the accused are government employees and therefore have a responsibility to exercise their authority lawfully and respect citizens’ rights and dignity. It said officials found responsible for assaulting a citizen or misusing their position should face appropriate legal or disciplinary action.

APCR has offered legal assistance to Mer’s family and said it would continue monitoring the case. It has called for an impartial investigation, including a specific inquiry into whether religious discrimination was a factor in the alleged assault. The organisation also wants statements from all relevant witnesses, proper consideration of the medical evidence and action against those found responsible.

APCR maintained that holding public office should not shield anyone from legal accountability.