Muslim biryani seller assaulted in Lucknow over beef claim; protest in Prayagraj
A 40-year-old Muslim biryani stall owner was allegedly assaulted by three youths in Lucknow’s Itaunja area after they accused him of carrying beef, while members of the VHP-Bajrang Dal allegedly created a ruckus over local meat sellers in Prayagraj’s Phulpur 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 police, Rizwan was carrying meat for his shop when the three accused, all in their 20s, allegedly assaulted him and threatened to kill him. The situation turned tense after local residents intervened.
A video purportedly showing the assault was widely circulated on social media. It shows Rizwan being pushed, grabbed and forced to the ground, while members of a mob, including a man wearing a saffron headscarf, allegedly kick and beat him.
Rizwan suffered injuries to his head and face and was discharged from hospital on Sunday evening after receiving treatment.
Based on his complaint, police registered an FIR against the three accused, identified as Rana Yadav, Shanu and Suraj.
A police officer said the three had been booked for allegedly 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 and sent to the veterinary officer for examination.
Itaunja police station Inspector Vinod Kumar said the situation at the spot remained peaceful and that law and order was under control.
The Lucknow incident was followed by a separate protest over meat shops in Prayagraj’s Phulpur area, where Bajrang Dal workers staged a demonstration at the local police station, demanding the arrest of 12 people running meat shops.
The incident occurred on Saturday near the old main railway gate after VHP-Bajrang Dal workers allegedly created a ruckus over the shops, accusing the meat sellers of carrying or selling beef. The shopkeepers denied the allegation, saying they had valid licences and did not sell beef.
Police registered a case against the 12 people, collected a meat sample for testing and launched an investigation.
The following morning, Bajrang Dal workers surrounded the Phulpur police station, raised slogans and staged a sit-in. The protest ended after the inspector assured them that the meat shop owners would be arrested within 24 hours.